In the summer of 1975, after fire destroyed a home in the Forest North Estates sub-division, a group of residents from Forest North and Anderson Mill got together and formed the Jollyville Company of the Round Rock Volunteer Fire Department. The group secured a bank loan and purchased an Army surplus 2-1/2 ton, 750 gallon tanker. There was a rule that surplus military vehicles had to be repainted so someone had painted the tanker with a brush and whitewash. and We were also loaned an open cab 1943 Chevrolet fire engine from the Round Rock Volunteer Fire Department for use as our first fire engine. When we purchased a new apparatus, the fire engine was then loaned to the Sam Bass Fire Department for use as their first engine! This fire engine is now in the Williamson Conty Fire Museum in Round Rock TX. The first fire station was a wood frame garage on Pond Springs Road that the group rented for $1 a year, which was where we housed the loaner 1943 fire engine.
In 1978, 17 Jollyville firefighters responded to another house fire in Forest North Estates with both trucks and, in accordance with a mutual aid agreement, were assisted by Sam Bass, Cedar Park, and Round Rock firefighters but the house could not be saved. At that time Jollyville firefighters were conducting door-to-door fund raising campaign and later sent out letters requesting donations to support their mission. For nine years the firefighters and families served an annual pancake supper as a fund raiser which was strongly supported by the entire community.
In 1980 a contract was signed with the Anderson Mill Municipal Utility District to provide funding for fire protection and medical first response for half of the current district. As the population increased, the need for fire protection and medical first response increased as well, prompting firefighters to raise their levels firefighting and medical training by attending the A&M Fire School and certifying as ECA’s, EMT’s and Paramedics, still as volunteers on their own time. Eventually, the need for more and better vehicles and full-time firefighters could not be ignored.
In 1985 a group of the volunteers held a successful election to form a taxing entity for the district and, with that, the first Fire District in Williamson County was formed, Williamson County Fire District Number One.
In 1995, the State of Texas, through legislation, created a path for county fire districts to upgrade their organizations to emergency services districts. With that, Williamson County Emergency Services District Number One was created. Again, it was the first emergency services district established in Williamson County; today there are 12. We go by several names; WILCO ESD NO.1, WCESD1 or just ESD1. There are five commissioners on the board which sets an annual tax rate, receives funding from district property taxes, and sales taxes for the provision of fire protection and medical response services to the district. The ESD Board contracts with Jollyville Fire Department to provide those and many related services. The ESD Board provides funding for the station, vehicles, equipment, personnel and benefits; anything required for the fulfillment of the mission. The two entities work as a team with the common goal of serving our district to the very best of our abilities.
In 2011, the City of Austin annexed about 53% of our district and tax base. With a substantially reduced tax revenues and a smaller area to cover, we closed the station in the Anderson Mill subdivision and added on to the current station on Anderson Mill Road, providing vehicle space and crew living quarters for the entire Jollyville VFD.
Also in 2011, the ESD Board held a successful election to capture the one percent sales tax that was available. This one percent sales tax was already being collected by the state but, since it was not already allocated, it was just going into the state General Fund. Due to this, the ESD was able to petition to reallocate this one present sales tax to our district. In spite of the comptroller’s relatively low estimate of revenue and the high cost for the election, we were determined to do everything possible to support our district in every possible way. We have realized 10 to 16 times more revenue annually than was originally estimated and it not only has kept us in business but it has allowed us to offer our firefighters competitive wages and excellent benefits including medical care and a retirement plan. We have a state of the art, safe and reliable fleet of vehicles, an on-site, realistic training area, and up-to-date, safe, and reliable equipment and gear.