The Dillon County Council voted at a recent meeting to take over the Latta Fire Department at the request of the town.

County Administrator Clay Young said the county had received a request from the Town of Latta to enter into an agreement to assume responsibility for all fire calls and the equipment. They will be able to lease the former Town of Latta Fire Department for $1. This lease is renewable annually.
Young said the town has very few fire calls so there would be very little expense to do this. He recommended that council approve this.
A motion by Councilman Robbie Coward and seconded by Councilman Archie Scott to approve this.
Councilman Harold Moody questioned who would pay the light bill because they give the town $400 a month for this facility. Young said he would work this out with the town.
All voted in favor of the motion.
The agreement reads as follows:
WHEREAS, the Town of Latta currently operates the Town of Latta Fire Department. The Town of Latta is in Dillon County and the Dillon County Fire Department responds to all fire calls within the town limits of Latta. All Town of Latta firemen are also County of Dillon firemen.
WHEREAS, there appears to be an overlap of services between the Town of Latta and Dillon County Fire Departments. This creates duplicate paperwork, insurance, fire call payments and operating costs without additional services being provided to the citizens of the Town of Latta;
WHEREAS, the Town of Latta and County of Dillon have agreed that the Town of Latta Fire Department shall be dissolved and all fire calls in the Town of Latta will henceforth be responded to by the County of Dillon Fire Department. The Town of Latta shall give a sixty day notice if or when the town would like to reinstate its fire department;
As consideration for the County of Dillon assuming responsibility for all fire calls and proper condition of fire equipment needed to fight fire and protect firemen while on call, the County of Dillon shall be allowed to lease from the Town of Latta the building in which the former Town of Latta Fire Department existed located on Bamberg Street adjacent to the Town of Latta police department for a lease of $1 per year. This lease may be renewed annually.
HENCEFORTH, the County of Dillon shall assume all responsibility for the fire calls within the Town Limits of Latta and all responsibility for fire equipment including but not limited to fire trucks, flushing and painting hydrants, and all other fire equipment.