Resident opposes proposed countywide fire service fee, questions enforcement for nonpayment

At the Oct. 9 Long County Board of Commissioners meeting, resident Randall Simmons raised concerns about a proposed countywide fire service fee, saying the charge would be unfair to property owners whose parcels contain only timber and no dwellings.

Simmons told the board that properties used for timber production should not be required to pay the fee applicable to occupied properties and asked whether there would be disciplinary action for property owners who did not pay. The minutes record Simmons’ concerns but do not record any response from the board or staff in the public minutes.

The minutes do not include the text of a proposed fee ordinance or resolution, how the fee would be assessed (per parcel, per dwelling, acreage-based, or otherwise), or any implementation timeline. The board did not record a public reply to Simmons’ question about enforcement in these minutes.