DeKalb Volunteer Fire Department Chief Donnie Green presented the fire department’s budget request during last Wednesday night’s county budget session.

“We did the three restrooms last year and are looking doing three more this year on the fire stations that do not have a restroom,” Chief Green said.

“We were able to go with something more economical. They make a toilet that has a pump on it, without having to install a septic system. On the outside it has a tank that you have pumped once a year. This is a lot cheaper, because you don’t have to get into a field line.

“We have also installed a shower at the main station. In capital projects, we would like to look at continuing with that project and maybe do three more.

“We are getting a lot of new recruits, and some of them are females. We just put on 10 fire fighters Sunday and four of them are females. We have to be more accommodating.

Green said they continue to apply for grants under the Assistance for Fire Fighter grant program. He said they will know more on this is a few weeks and asked they leave that they leave the grant match in the budget of $36,100.

The volunteer fire department currently has four part-time employees. This was started last year as Chief Green had asked for $16.50 per hour to be budgeted to cover their salary. However, that amount was not feasible and it was budgeted for them to be given $10 per hour. This year he is asking it be raised to $12 per hours.

“I wouldn’t feel like I was doing my job if I didn’t come and ask for those guy a little bit more money,” said Chief Green, “so I’ve ask for that to go to $12 per hours. Which is still, in my opinion, way under their value for their level of training. These guys are certified fire fighters plus vehicle extrication technicians.”

The rest of the budget remained reflective of last year’s.

No action has been taken by the budget committee as of yet.