Cedar Bluff Council Declines Fire Department’s Pay Reduction Proposal

CEDAR BLUFF — During Monday night’s Cedar Bluff Town Council meeting, Fire Chief Steven Kimmons presented a proposal that caught council members off guard: a request to reduce firefighter reimbursement from $25 per call to $10.

The letter, read aloud by Mayor Pro-tem Anna Grace, explained that the reduction would apply to calls involving fire training, emergencies, weather events, and other special duties. The department’s intent was to free up more funds for needed equipment and resources. Chief Kimmons noted he had not seen a department budget in three years and was unsure of the annual operating figures. The proposal stemmed from a collective decision by department members who felt that sacrificing part of their pay might help better serve the town.

While the council expressed gratitude for the department’s commitment and selflessness, members unanimously declined to act on the request. They emphasized the value of the department’s service and indicated the current compensation was already modest.

Instead, the council encouraged Kimmons to work with the Town Clerk to access budget information and bring any equipment requests directly to the council for consideration.

In the month of June, the Cedar Bluff Fire Department responded to 30 calls. These included 12 medical assists, three motor vehicle accidents with no injuries, one police assist, six cover assignments or standbys, one no-incident-found call, one severe weather event, four windstorm-related calls, one special-type incident, and one citizen complaint.

Although the pay reduction was denied, town officials reaffirmed their support for the fire department and its role in protecting the community.