DOBSON — In a process that resembled parliamentary hopscotch, the Surry County Board of Commissioners has okayed the redistricting of 51 parcels from the Shoals Fire Tax District to the Pilot Knob Fire Tax District.

The action came as the board convened its regular meeting Monday night in Dobson.

Addressing the board, County Attorney Ed Woltz said that the process involved collecting signatures from two-thirds of the involved residents.

“The signatures have been gathered by Fire Marshal Doug Jones from both districts,” he said, noting that all necessary legal documents were in place.

The impetus for the change is that the Shoals fire tax district had been covering part of Stokes County and current district lines meant that both departments often had to go out of their way to cover fires in their district, according to County Manager Chris Knopf.

In order to make the transition official, Woltz said, the board of commissioners needed to approve the resolution, and it must also be considered by the county’s Fire Protection Commission.

“Which consists of you board members,” he noted.

On a motion by Commissioner Eddie Harris and with a second by Commissioner Paul Johnson, the board recessed the board of commissioners meeting and, without moving an inch, convened a meeting of the Fire Protection Commission.

Johnson, as a member of the Fire Protection Commission, made a motion to add the 51 parcels to the Pilot Knob District.

His motion was approved unanimously.

The Fire Protection Commission then adjourned its meeting, and to chuckles from those in attendance, reconvened the board of commissioners meeting.

As commissioners, Harris made a motion to pass a resolution to ratify the new footprint of the Shoals and Pilot Knob districts.

The motion passed unanimously, with Commissioner and Fire Protection Commission member Garry Scearce absent.

Reach Keith Strange at kstrange@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1929.