LCRA, Hamilton County Electric Co-op award $50,000 grant to Shive VFD
New fire truck will enhance emergency response in Hamilton County
May 15, 2025
LCRA and Hamilton County Electric Cooperative representatives present a $50,000 grant to the Shive Volunteer Fire Department for a new fire truck. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: John Palacio, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Michael L. “Mike” Allen, LCRA Board member; Bill Adams, VFD assistant fire chief; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Walter Bosse, VFD firefighter; Carol Freeman, LCRA Board member; Mike Bosse, VFD fire chief; Janet Adams, VFD secretary/treasurer; Cody Lasater, Hamilton County Electric Cooperative general manager; Brandon Haile, Hamilton County Electric Cooperative board president, District 2; Kristi Hitchcock and Justin Williams, VFD firefighters; and Debbie Bosse, VFD member.
HAMILTON COUNTY, Texas – The Shive Volunteer Fire Department soon will purchase a new fire truck to add to its fleet, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Hamilton County Electric Cooperative.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $62,500 in matching funds from the department, will enable the VFD to replace an aging truck to help ensure the department will continue to be able to quickly and reliably respond to emergencies.
“Rural fire trucks have a really hard life,” said Michael “Mike” Bosse, Shive VFD fire chief. “They may not have very many miles on the odometer, but the terrain is rough, and they’re exposed to the elements. The one we’re replacing will be 21 years old this year, so it’s time to put it out to pasture.”
Hamilton County relies solely on volunteer fire departments, which respond to fires as well as provide assistance at traffic accidents. Firefighters often are the first responders at the scene of an emergency and administer medical care until an ambulance arrives.
“We rely on grants and donations to keep our department going,” Bosse said. “Without them, there’s no way we could replace a truck because the price is just prohibitive. Grants are our lifeblood, and thanks to LCRA and Hamilton County Electric Co-op, we will be able to secure a new fire truck that will keep our community safe.”
LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said LCRA is proud to support the Shive department and the volunteer firefighters who work day in and day out to protect the community.
“We depend on firefighters to be there when we need them, and firefighters deserve to have a reliable fire truck that will be ready to roll when a call comes in,” Wilson said. “These volunteers have stepped up to support and protect the community, and LCRA is proud to step up to support them by assisting with the new fire truck.”
With the addition of the new truck, the department will retire the older of its two fire trucks. The department will move the water tank and pump unit from the existing truck to the new vehicle so they can be reused.
The Shive VFD provides services in southwestern Hamilton County, including Shive, Evant and Pecan Wells. The department also provides mutual aid in areas including Hamilton, Pottsville, Carlton and Star and surrounding counties.
The community grant is one of 45 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Hamilton County Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.
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