The Town of New Market will reinstate funding for its fire department after a year full of controversy.

The town decided to renew its $20,000 contribution by the end of June.

Last November, funding was frozen by the town and Shenandoah County governments after the department's former president was indicted on embezzlement charges.

In April, two of the department's volunteers were charged with setting more than a half dozen fires in Rockingham and Shenandoah counties.

The troubled fire company is going through changes. Chief Matthew Hughes is trying to secure funding to keep the company going.

"We have a good bunch of firefighters," says Hughes. "The problems we had could happen anywhere."

However, those problems happened in New Market.

Hughes has been waiting for word on whether he could expect funding from the town and county governments.

Gary Comer voted with the rest of the town's council to reinstate funding this week.

"They had made a complete turnaround in the way they were operating, both on the business end of the department as well as the firefighting end of the department," says Comer.

The county asked the department to make several changes, including hiring a bookkeeper and accountant, changing the locks, and dismissing company members alleged to be involved in the embezzlement.

"And we did all that. And, it seems like every time we do what they ask, it's something else they want done," says Hughes.

The county's government has not yet voted to reinstate funding.

"Sure, I can understand the skepticism. I've been there," says Comer.

As far as confronting any lingering doubts from the community, Hughes says the company will do "whatever it takes."

It's still unclear whether the county government will restore its $30,000 contribution to the company. No date has been set for the board of supervisors to take a vote on the issue.

The former department members accused in both the embezzlement and arson cases are expected in court next month.