Walnut Public Meeting Tonight on Fire Department Changes
Residents who have questions about the shake-up in Walnut’s fire protection will get a chance to ask them in person tonight. The Town of Walnut has called a Walnut public meeting for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at City Hall, where the mayor will discuss the changes to the town’s fire department.
The town posted the formal notice on its official Facebook page late Thursday morning. The notice is signed by Mayor Chase Wilbanks and attested by the town clerk, and it says it was also posted at Town Hall, the post office and Tomlinson’s.
Walnut Public Meeting Details
- What: Public meeting on the Walnut Fire Department changes
- When: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
- Where: Walnut City Hall, 621 Main Street
- Who should attend: Residents, fire department members and anyone else interested
According to the notice, the meeting is meant to be “a space for open discussion.” Town leaders say people who attend can hear information about the changes, ask questions, raise concerns and share their own thoughts and opinions. “Your voice matters,” the notice says, encouraging everyone to come.
Why the Fire Department Is Changing
The meeting follows a public split this week between town leaders and the volunteers who have answered fire calls in Walnut for years. On Wednesday, Nov. 4, the mayor and Board of Aldermen announced that the town is forming its own Walnut Fire Department, run as a department of the town, after the Walnut Volunteer Fire Department did not renew its agreement with the town.
In that statement, town leaders said they had tried for several months to put a formal, legally binding fire protection contract in place. They said they learned there had been no written contract between the town and the fire department for about 20 years, and that state law and Mississippi Insurance Department guidelines call for written agreements covering accountability, financial reporting, insurance and the proper use of public funds. The board said residents’ fire protection “will not lapse.”
The night before, Brandon Wilbanks posted on the Walnut Fire & Rescue Facebook page that his time as chief and as a member of the volunteer department had ended. He described the past year as, in his opinion, a “power struggle” with the mayor and board, and thanked the community for its support.
Questions Still to Be Answered
The town’s earlier statement left several key details open, and those are likely to come up tonight. They include:
- Who will lead the new Walnut Fire Department
- How many firefighters it will have, and whether current volunteers will be part of it
- What equipment and station the department will use during the transition
- When the change will take full effect
Fire protection will continue during the changeover, according to town leaders. As always, residents should call 911 for any fire or medical emergency. Questions can also be directed to Walnut Town Hall at (662) 223-4405.
Tippah News will report on what is shared at the meeting as more information becomes available.
Related: Walnut Fire Department to Replace Volunteer Agreement | Walnut Voting Location Moved to Community Building
Source: Town of Walnut (Facebook)
