KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. –The Kanawha County Commission voted to reimburse county agencies for first responder training at the Sissonville Fire and Rescue School, highlighting its commitment to public safety.

Earlier this month, Commissioner Lance Wheeler pledged the commission would help improve volunteer fire departments by paying for any firefighter, police officer or EMS worker attending the school.

Kanawha County Emergency Manager C.W. Sigman said the county would reimburse the agency, which would then pass the funds along to the student after the course is completed.

“First of all, firefighter department, police agencies, anybody going to the school pays up front, pays for tuition, and once they finish the course, certificate in hand, they can submit to us a requisition with a receipt and the certificate,” Sigman told the commission Thursday during their meeting.

Wheeler said the commission would use between $30,000 and $60,000 from the Public Safety Grant for the reimbursements.

He asked Sigman why they would not go ahead and reimburse the students directly.

Sigman said that approach was possible, but not beneficial.

“A lot of folks, say it’s a good idea, I think I’ll take a class and right before the school starts, they’ve already got the books, they’ve already encountered a lot of expenses and the student doesn’t attend the class,” he said. “If we have it where we reimburse, they’ll get a little bit more push and oversight from leadership in the fire department and other agencies to make sure they complete the courses or they don’t sign up unless they intend to take it.”

Sigman said the reimbursement plan would extend to police and EMS.

Wheeler expressed belief that the extension will help keep Kanawha County safer.

“We’re a team, when a 911 call is made, we go as a team and that’s when people lives are saved,” Wheeler said. “So, I think is going to be excellent, I think this is going to work and I think it’s going to improve first response here in Kanawha County.”

Commissioner Natalie Tennant, who joined the meeting via Zoom, said she saw Facebook comments expressing support.

She said that because of this and the plan the commission created, she supported it.

“I’m watching some of the Facebook, and people are saying like PJ Johnson Sissonville Fire School is the best, and so when we can get the reaction from those who know about it also out in the public it’s a really good thing,” Tennant said.

Kanawha County has 28 volunteer fire departments serving the area.

Sigman said feedback on this approach from many of the departments has been positive.

“Everything I’ve heard so far has been good, everybody agrees that this is the right way to do it,” he said.

The Sissonville Fire and Rescue School will offer its next courses in two sessions: March 6-8 and March 10-12.