KELLY-KELTON — A fire board that feels it is giving the public what it wants by refusing to raise taxes and a fire department that believes the public would be better served by lower fire insurance rates are at the heart of a growing controversy in the Kelly-Kelton Fire District.

The two sides clashed Tuesday night at the Kelly-Kelton fire station during what might have otherwise been a routine quarterly meeting of the Fire Control Board. A leaflet, signed by "Kelly-Kelton Fire Members" circulating through the community and notices to the media, however, urged the public to attend and confront the board about its failure to see to it that the Kelly-Kelton Fire Department has "up to date fire equipment, medical supplies, extrication equipment and updates in fire fighter safety."

Both sides quickly squared off with the board, led by chairman Hoyt Haney, defending itself with Haney repeatedly saying that the board has given the department everything it has ever asked for. What they have not done, however, is raise the district's tax millage with Haney saying the people of the district would not support it.

The firefighters, led by Chief Kim Hill, countered that the department's ability to respond to fires is being hindered by the board's failure to provide adequate funding to ensure its equipment is in good working order. Hill pointed out that one truck has been broken down for months and the tanker has pinholes in it which she is having to plug with epoxy.

"Basically, the trucks are down more than they're running," Hill said. "The board is not getting these repairs done in a timely manner."

Kelly-Kelton's millage stands at 20 mills which generates $37,424 a year in revenue. Hill pointed out that the district is paying $16,600 a year for the 2004 fire truck. This leaves just over $20,000 a year for operating expenses including maintenance and new equipment. She said the lack of funding is preventing her department from being in compliance with ISO regulations. The lack of compliance is driving insurance premiums up in the district to the point where residents are forced to pay over $1,100 a year for fire insurance.

Haney and other board members reiterated their position that they have always provided Hill and all the district's past fire chiefs with everything they've ever requested. As for the vehicles, they said maintenance needs is being done in a timely manner by trained mechanics.

However, Haney said the district cannot afford to "buy a new fire truck" at every meeting. As for raising the tax millage, Haney said he would never do that unless the majority of the people in the district said they'd support it. He offered to conduct a survey of the district's residents to determine how they feel, but said he believed not one-in-10 would support an increase.

Hill and some others attending the meeting, however, said they believed the people of the district would support an increase if it was explained to them how a small tax increase could improve fire safety and reduce insurance rates.