The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners on Thursday agreed to use $51,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide every active volunteer firefighter in the county with a $1,000 relief stipend.
The 51 volunteer firefighters belong to the all-volunteer departments of Berrydale, Munson, Jay, Allentown and Harold.
Jay Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tony Simmons said he appreciated the show of good faith.
“We get good support from our county leadership from emergency management and from the county commission itself,” Simmons said. “In just thanking (us) shows that they do appreciate what we do on a daily basis.” At a commission committee meeting Monday, District 5 Commissioner Colten Wright leaned into the fact that he believed these volunteers deserved something for what they accomplish.