SUMMERDALE — The question of exactly who is responsible for the utility bills of Summerdale Volunteer Fire Department remains unanswered.

As previously reported, the Summerdale Town Council asked the VFD to do so at its regular meeting last month. At that time, Summerdale Mayor David Wilson said the request came as the council was preparing the town’s 2013 budget, citing that the VFD receives revenue from ad valorem tax.

According to Wilson, Summerdale sales tax revenue totaled $168,556 in 2011 and the VFD’s October fund balance was $30,000. He added that last month’s request was the first time the municipality has asked the Summerdale VFD to pay for its own utilities.

Following last month’s meeting, Summerdale Volunteer Fire Chief John Resmondo agreed to meet with the firefighters and get back with the council. But at Tuesday’s Summerdale Town Council workshop, he was joined by Baldwin County Fire Chief Association President Gib Hixon, who pleaded the VFD’s case.

According to Hixon, the town has no authority to make such a request, as he believes the Summerdale VFD doesn’t fall under municipal rule.

“What you’ve got is a separate entity from the town of Summerdale,” he told the Council. “When I look at their bylaws, which date back to 1987, I find that they were not founded by the city.”

However, Wilson told Hixon that the issue had already been resolved.

“I think we’ve come to an understanding,” he said.

But Hixon continued.

“Before you start asking things of them (Summerdake VFD), you need to find out who can ask what,” he said. “I’m seeing this as a separate entity.”

Hixon also expressed displeasure at the town’s intention to place Town Clerk Tiffany Lynn on the Summerdale VFD bank account.

“If we are the owners of the Summerdale Fire Department, by state law the town clerk has to be on the bank account,” Wilson explained.

The mayor also said the financial request was only for the VFD to pay its utility bills out of the ad valorem revenue it receives.

“We’re not charging them rent,” Wilson told Hixon. “By no means do we want to overrun our fire department. But what you’ve got to undersand is that the town of Summerdale operates on a shoestring budget.”

He added that the revenue received by the Summerdale VFD should only be used for equipment and operational purposes.

“Public funding cannot be used for soft drinks and coffee,” he told Hixon.

Mayor Pro-tem Norma Wilson Giles also added that in her professional experience as a certified public accountant, she dealt with the same issue with a fire department in a different municipality, in which she was asked to determine such factors as whether EIN numbers and titles were in the name of the municipality. If so, she said, it was determined that the municipality had authority over the entity.

“That’s the case with this one, as well,” she told Hixon.

Tuesday’s discussion resulted in a roundtable discussion planned for Nov. 14, with three representatives from Summerdale VFD and Town Council meeting about the issue.

Also Tuesday, following the Summerdale Town Council workshop and meeting, a Veterans Day program was held. The event included singing led by Nathan Tidwell, minister of music at Summerdale Church of Christ, recognition of Summerdale veterans, a short film and refreshments.