Section 75.185 - Board to hold public hearing prior to change to fire protection services concerning communication services, firefighting resources, or water supply that will likely downgrade fire service rating - Notifications(1) No change to fire protection services in a fire protection district, volunteer fire department district, or subdistrict of either, concerning:(a) Communications services;(b) Firefighting resources such as firehouses, vehicles, equipment, personnel, training, and resource distribution; or(c) Water supply; under its control which is recognized by the board as having the likely potential to cause a nationally recognized fire service ratings organization to downgrade the fire service rating of members in all or a portion of the district or subdistrict shall be effective without a public hearing being convened by the board prior to making the change.
(2)(a) Any member of a fire protection district, volunteer fire department district, or subdistrict of either may register his or her email address with the board to provide email notification of public hearings convened for the purpose set out in subsection (1) of this section.(b) No later than thirty (30) days prior to the date of a public hearing convened for the purpose set out in subsection (1) of this section, the board shall send to persons registering pursuant to this subsection notification of a public hearing through electronic mail that includes:1. The name of the fire protection district, volunteer fire department district, or subdistrict of either;2. A description of the proposed action;3. Wording to the effect that the action, if undertaken, could increase fire protection insurance premiums for the members of the district or subdistrict;4. The time, date, and location of the public hearing in question; and5. Information on how the member may register his or her opinion relative to the proposed change during the public hearing.(3) The board shall provide, no later than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the public hearing convened for the purpose set out in subsection (1) of this section, written notification containing the information set out in subsection (2)(b) of this section, delivered by United States mail to the following elected officers having constituents in territory contained within the district or subdistrict:(a) Kentucky State Representatives and Senators;(b) County judges/executive and members of the fiscal court;(c) Mayors and members of city legislative bodies; and(d) The executive head and legislative body members of any merged government organized under KRS Chapter 67, 67A, or 67C.(4) The board shall also, no later than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the public hearing convened for the purpose set out in subsection (1) of this section, post a notice of the hearing conspicuously on the property of the firehouse or houses serving members who will be affected by the proposed changes. Each sign shall state "PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING FIRE SERVICE CHANGES" in letters of at least three (3) inches in height and shall include the hearing date, time, and location in letters of at least one (1) inch in height. The notice shall be constructed of a durable material.Added by 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 92,§ 1, eff. 7/15/2024.