Hookerton Approves Reserve Funds to Help Fire Department Purchase Upgraded Truck
The Town of Hookerton held its regular board meeting on Tuesday, April 7, at the town hall. Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Stocks attended virtually, while Town Administrator Shaun Jackson was absent.
Utility Deposit Dispute
The board addressed a utility deposit matter that had been placed on the agenda. A female resident had utility service in her name at a property she had vacated, leaving another person residing there. When she came to collect her deposit, she was told the outstanding bill had to be paid first. The situation escalated before being resolved through follow-up conversations. Staff confirmed the deposit had been applied to the unpaid balance, meaning the woman still owed money. A new tenant has since moved in, filled out an application, and paid a deposit.
The woman ultimately did not attend the meeting after learning the facts of the situation.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Catherine Carraway raised concerns about a resident who had been permitted to park an RV on a property with the understanding she would build a house within one year, a deadline that began in September. Community members have been asking when construction will start. Mayor Bobby Taylor acknowledged the situation and noted the resident is still working through some issues, though no firm timeline was provided.
Carraway also flagged a recent rash of dump trailer thefts in the area and asked whether the town’s trailer was properly secured. Public Works Superintendent Tyler Shirley confirmed the trailer is stored under a shelter and kept locked, requiring more than a simple hookup to steal.
Commissioner Doris Jones raised the condition of the town’s streets, noting they are in poor shape. Mayor Taylor said he had spoken with a district supervisor and a senator about the issue and cautioned against borrowing money for repairs, pointing to another town that took out a 40-year loan for street work as an example of what to avoid. Shirley said he would continue pursuing grant opportunities to address the problem.
Fire Department Truck Purchase
The board approved directing $41,734.04 in dormant reserve funds to the Hookerton Fire Department to help purchase an upgraded fire truck.
The funds had been set aside years ago when the town carried a USDA loan, which required maintaining one year’s worth of loan payments in a separate account. That loan has since been paid, but the reserve funds remained untouched and had largely been forgotten. Shirley proposed putting the money toward a used fire truck that would better meet the department’s needs.
The push for a new truck stems from a state inspection conducted a couple of weeks ago. Inspectors determined the town’s required fire flow is 1,750 gallons per minute. The department’s current 1991 model truck has a pump capacity of only 1,250 gallons per minute, leaving it 500 gallons short of what is required. The growth of larger homes and multi-story developments in the fire district, including those in the Cutter Creek subdivision, has increased the fire flow requirement.
The truck being considered is a 1999 model coming from another fire department. It carries a 1,750-gallon-per-minute pump and a 2,000-gallon tank, priced at $65,000. By comparison, the cheapest brand-new truck of similar capability would cost more than $500,000. The fire department said it has sufficient funds to cover the difference after the town’s contribution, though the purchase will strain its budget until the older truck is sold. The replacement truck is yellow rather than red, and Shirley said the department hopes to eventually paint it to match the rest of the fleet once the old truck sells.
The board voted to approve the use of the reserve funds.
