The Town of Southern Shores sent out the following “special announcement” email from Mayor Elizabeth Morey and Eddie Hayman, Chairman of the Board of the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Dept. (SSVFD), late yesterday afternoon:
“To the Residents, Property and Business Owners of the Town of Southern Shores,
“To maintain our excellent fire protection services, we are writing to share with you a path forward as we feel the time has come to evaluate the long-term sustainability of our present volunteer system. We are extremely thankful for our volunteer firefighters, past and present. They continue to provide excellent services aimed at preventing, limiting, and reducing damage of personal injury and property damage caused by fire or other emergencies. The volunteer organization is very much a part of the foundation that makes this a great place, and we will always be committed to keeping volunteers in place. Chief Ed Limbacher does an excellent job of leading the department, having gone far and above what’s expected for the past ten years. There are many people to thank through all the years of dedicated, loyal, generous and tireless service.
“We have been extremely fortunate to have received these services under our present contract and have not had to sacrifice any loss in protection while saving our taxpayers a considerable amount of their tax dollars. Considering any potential transition is an important decision. We have determined that working with a fire service consultant to help evaluate the feasibility of the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department becoming part of the Town of Southern Shores municipal government, is appropriate at this time.
“We will continue to keep you informed of our progress in the coming months. While we feel the time has come to evaluate where we are and to ensure we continue to do what is best for Southern Shores and for those that serve as volunteers, we want to assure everyone that our focus remains on keeping you all safe.
“With Greatest Respects,” signed by Mayor Morey and Mr. Hayman
We have highlighted the significant language in this letter. After reading it, you might have asked, as we did: Why?
Why has the time come for a long-term evaluation of the volunteer fire department system?
Why is it appropriate now for the Town to work with a “fire service consultant” to help evaluate the “feasibility” of the SSVFD becoming a Town department, rather than remaining an independent, non-profit corporation?
What’s going on?
We don’t have answers, just questions, but we can provide you with some information that may be useful as situational context begins to emerge.
FACTS ABOUT THE SSVFD AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TOWN
The Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Dept. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that was incorporated in 1982. A history on the SSVFD’s website traces its origins to “nine dedicated citizens” in Kitty Hawk who borrowed money to build a fire station near Wink’s Grocery Store on the beach road.
In 1968, according to the history, a fire district was established to provide fire protection services to Colington, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores, and Duck. Subsequently, all four established their own standalone fire departments.
You might enjoy watching a videotape on the SSVFD website in which former Fire Chief David Sanders describes the department’s tremendous growth in the 1990s when he was in charge. Mr. Sanders, who also served on the Town Council, still lives in Southern Shores. (See http://www.ssvfd.net.)
The modern-day SSVFD provides contracted fire protection services and emergency medical support to Southern Shores and Martin’s Point. The current contract with Southern Shores started July 1, 2019 and is in effect until June 30, 2029. Previous contracts also have been for 10 years.
The Town of Southern Shores’ budget for the SSVFD in FY 2024-25 is $1,207,335: $893,315 for contracted services and $314,020 for the annual debt on the new fire station at 15 S. Dogwood Trail.
The Town assumed a 25-year mortgage in FY 2020-21 to pay for the construction of the station, which cost $5,419,223. Financed at an interest rate of 3.71 percent, the original annual debt payment was expected to be $333,552, but it was subsequently lowered to $314,020.
The Town’s SSVFD budget was $1,073,539 in FY 2023-24; $1,004,243 in FY 2022-23; and $964,378 in FY 2021-22. Dare County also contributes funding, and the SSVFD provides support throughout the county, when needed.
The only SSVFD firefighters who receive a salary and benefits are the Fire Chief and the Deputy Fire Chief. All others are unpaid professionals.
In 2023, Southern Shores Town Manager Cliff Ogburn asked the Town Council to increase the Town’s minimum required Undesignated Fund Balance (UFB) from $1.75 million to $3.5 million as a hedge against the possibility that the Town would have to “assume ownership of the assets and responsibility to provide fire services,” should its contract with SSVFD become “void.”
This possibility did not come to pass, and there has been no public discussion about the Town becoming the owner of the fire department.
The UFB is a Town set-aside of funding for emergency and disaster relief.
The Town Council held a closed session Tuesday night after completing the business agenda of its meeting. When it returned, the Mayor announced that she and her colleagues had authorized the Town Manager to hire a consultant “to help us with long-term town planning.” The Mayor did not elaborate.
SSVFD DEPUTY CHIEF MATTHEW DUDEK LEAVES FOR DUCK
The Duck Fire Dept. announced on Wednesday that it had hired Southern Shores Deputy Chief Matthew Dudek, effective immediately, as its new Deputy Fire Chief and Acting Fire Chief while Duck Fire Chief Donna Black transitions to her new position in Washington, D.C., as Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator.
One might assume that Mr. Dudek will succeed Ms. Black after her departure.
The Duck Fire Dept. is also a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation staffed by volunteers, but according to budgetary materials on the Town of Duck website, more firefighting professionals are compensated than are paid in Southern Shores.
Deputy Chief Dudek joined the SSVFD in May 2021, after he and his family relocated to Southern Shores. A U.S. Navy veteran, the Deputy Chief has more than 25 years of fire service, including 20 years with fire departments in upstate New York.
Mr. Dudek also has a Bachelor’s degree in Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management from State University of New York-Empire State College and a Master’s degree in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School, according to his Linked-In page. (The announcement of Deputy Chief Dudek’s appointment was carried on the Town of Duck website and in “The Outer Banks Voice.”)
The Town of Duck’s FY 2024-25 budget for its fire department is $2,065,851.
By Ann G. Sjoerdsma, The Beacon, 12/7/24
The Southern Shores Beacon 
Thanks to all the dedicated volunteers who have kept our Southern Shores community safe over the years. Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department does an outstanding job providing for our safety whether it’s a fire or other emergency. All the fire departments on the beach depend on each other for support when there are major fires/emergencies and they are always there to help each other. Over time, trying to find enough volunteers has become more difficult for all fire departments throughout the county. With all the new fire/EMS station construction happening in Dare County it may be time to start the conversation, not only within Southern Shores, but with all the towns and Dare county about consolidating fire/emergency services.
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Thanks, Gary. We welcome any other insight you may have!
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