Council advances ordinance to create countywide unincorporated fire service district

The Jasper County Council held a public hearing and took a second reading on Ordinance 2026-17, which would consolidate seven existing fire-service providers and county-created fire service areas into a single countywide unincorporated-area fire service district.

The presenter summarized that the consolidation would eliminate five county-created fire-service areas and create a single tax district overlaying unincorporated areas; the ordinance also contemplates a contractual arrangement with the City of Hardeeville to provide services in the southern end of the county. The presenter said consolidation timing is linked to the July 1 start of the county's fiscal year and added that the ordinance would give the county legal authority to levy taxes in the unincorporated areas for fire services while allowing offsetting adjustments to operating millage inside incorporated municipalities.

Council discussed a pending conversation with the City of Arteville (spelled in the transcript as 'Artieville'); the presenter said staff received responsive comments from Arteville's city attorney while the meeting was in executive session and that the draft lease may need amendment to include a third station — the Mead Road Fire Station. Following the public hearing the council closed the hearing, moved to approve Ordinance 2026-17 as amended to include Mead Road Fire Station and the motion carried unanimously.

Next steps: staff said they expect to continue intergovernmental discussions with Arteville and Hardeeville and may adjust lease language before a third reading; the ordinance would take effect in coordination with budget timing if adopted at final reading.