What Happens Next

[orangebuster]

A small volunteer company located close to ours has recently folded up and the person in charge of getting things taken care of financially, and equipment wise is sort of lost as to what needs to be done with the equipment that was awarded them through a grant in Ohio, equipment they received to replace damaged equipment from flooding through fema,N An engine from USDA, equipment they had previously purchased, as well as the building and grounds and any funds left after lawyer fees.

The department was again a small department that ran 15 calls tops, but they did have some good people and equipment, but not enough people or finances.

Can anyone out there lend some advice on Ohio law about this.


STILL STANDING

[Weruj1]

I must say .......I have never heard of such an important entity going out of business ......... I have no clue to guide you ..maybe Steamer?

[ff7134]

I would thik that stuff bought threw grants and things given by the Gov't, you would have to contact those Enities as ask them. Everything else could be sold. That is the first time I have heard of a Dept. packing up and going home though.

[PAVolunteer]

I can not address the grant issue ...

Regarding selling the equipment ... assuming this was in IRC Section 501(c)(3) organization (as most charitable organizations are), the organization can NOT sell the equipment (or anything else owned by the department) AND have a member gain financially from it. So, be careful what you do with the proceeds. You must have a plan in place before stuff is sold, and the proceeds must be tracked.

Stay Safe

[Bones42]

We have a rule that if we fold for whatever reason, all equipment is sold and the money is returned to our Town Council, who gives us our budget annually.

[orangebuster]

I have checked on some info from the state on this and it seems that the department is a non profit enity and a private incorported department which means that they must go by their articles of incorporation for dissolving. As for equipment purchased through grant funds or other federal agencies, this must be taken care of through them.

The area being served is apparently going to be covered by former mutual-aid companies, and the previous members are being invited to join up with one of these departments.

Really feel sorry for the man trying to handle the problem. He was not the chief, just a trustee. Neighboring departments have been hounding him for their equipment, and upset that he has not released anything as of yet.

The department is in an unincorporated area of a township, and the Townhship trustee's seem unfazed that this has happened in the area, and the people serviced by the department seem unfazed as well.

Thanks for the input so far, anything on how to prevent it from happening to other real small departments.


STILL STANDING