YADKIN COUNTY, NC (LOOTPRESS) — The Yadkin County Board of Commissioners has approved annual contracts for fiscal year 2026 with nine of the county’s ten volunteer fire departments, renewing agreements to provide essential fire protection and limited medical response services.
However, the Boonville Community Volunteer Fire Department will operate under a new, stricter quarterly contract. The decision, made during a recent board meeting, requires the department to provide more frequent financial and operational updates to the county.
As part of the revised agreement, the Board is mandating significant leadership changes within the Boonville department. The current Fire Chief and Assistant Chiefs must step down from all leadership roles within the next 30 days and will be barred from holding any such positions for five years.
These changes follow the recent reinstatement of the department’s tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Boonville VFD had lost its nonprofit designation in November 2020 after failing to file IRS Form 990 for more than three consecutive years. The status was reinstated in April 2025.
County officials cited ongoing concerns about the department’s financial management and leadership as key factors behind the revised contract. The Board expressed those concerns directly to the Boonville Community Volunteer Fire Department’s Board of Directors, emphasizing the potential risk to critical emergency services in the district.
The new contract aims to restore accountability and ensure reliable service for taxpayers in the Boonville area.
