TOWN OF FRIDAY HARBOR FIRE

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Council: Separate fire dept necessary

posted 08/16/02
Friday Harbor Town Council will not investigate changes to fire protection services for the town. Referring to savings if Fire District No. 3 provided the service, Countilmember David Jones said, "We might save $40,000. That's a small savings. I look at accountability. We are on a short chain to the voters and the fire dept is on a short chain to us."

The council passed, by a 4-1 vote, Resolution 1293 at their evening council meeting August 15 affirming their support of the Friday Harbor Fire Dept. Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld voted against the motion. "This reeks of my fire department right or wrong," he said. "I don't understand what the purpose of this resolution is. People in this town are very seriously interested in this issue."

"We need to ask ourselves how much extra are we going to make the few citizens of Friday Harbor pay to give this department what it wants," he said. "Loyalty is a wonderful thing, but we have a job to do. Having two fire departments doesn't make sense. It is a public safety issue, as long as there are two there will be problems." He suggested a feasibility study be conducted.

Councilmember Bill LaPorte said no one in town has ever told him they want to disband the fire department. "It doesn't appear to be a big thing from people who live in town," he said. "Why would we be talking about a merger with a district that hasn't shown anything but animosity towards the town? What makes you think we would get any protection from that department? I fully support this resolution based on performance and loyalty. We would lose 30 good firefighters if we merged."

Jones stressed accountability "If we go to county administration, they could take an engine out of town and use it on the west side, they could raise rates," he said. "We need to keep users of service closely connected.

Councilmember Carrie Brooks said, "I was hoping we could get a little peace. So many people have been hurt, damage has been done. Let's just drop it for awhile, maybe do a study later. Someday we should sit down, but right now, because the tension is so great. We support the guys and the women we have, and the fire chief. They are doing a good job for the community, they are doing it for less than the other department."

Councilmember Wally Gillette said, "This excellent group of volunteers knows our town, that is their specialty."

Mayor Gary Boothman said paying for fire protection through property tax would not be fair since tax exempt properties do not pay property tax. "There are a substantial number of buildings that do not pay a dime for fire protection service."

RESOLUTION NO 1293

A resolution by the Council of the Town of Friday Harbor affirming their continued support of the Town of Friday Harbor Fire Department.

WHEREAS, the Town Council believes that providing fire protection for the Town’s property and citizens is a fundamental and important responsibility of Town government; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Friday Harbor has supported and maintained its own Fire Department since 1953; and

WHEREAS, the Council, believes that having a fire department under the immediate control of the Town Government guarantees the most responsible and direct means of providing fire protection; and

WHEREAS, by providing direct control supervision for the costs and funding of its Fire Department, the Council assures the greater fiscal responsibility and oversight; and

WHEREAS, the Council understands that maintaining the morale of its volunteer fire fighters is a fundamental cornerstone for providing efficient and ressponsive fire services; and

WHEREAS, identification with the Friday Harbor Fire Department is an essential element of this morale, and helps to foster and enhance the loyalty and commitment of the department’s volunteer firefighters.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Friday Harbor hereby affirms its support for maintaining, funding and administering the Friday Harbor Fire Department, and hereby adopts this resolution as a means of expressing their support for the contributions and dedication of their volunteer firefighters.

The town pays for the fire department from general fund revenues which come mostly from sales and property tax. There are provisions in state law for funding for school districts and state-owned properties such as the ferry terminal. RCW 52.30.020 refers to funding if the county fire district provided the service. RCW 35.21.775 refers to towns and cities.

The council passed the resolution as Fire Chief Bob Low and 21 firefighters looked on.

Letter from Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld presented to Friday Harbor Town Council August 15, 2002

The 8-13-02 sanjuanislander.com editorial Time To Consider Cost Of Tradition made a very compelling case for merging the fire department on purely economic considerations. As suggested we owe it to the residents and sewer rate payers to give the fire levy a serious hearing.

There are some additional, significant savings which would follow a merger we also need to consider:

• Town Hall could expand into the fire station saving future expansion costs and the monthly rent (about $12,000 yr.) currently being paid for outside office spaces. The condo space could be sold or rented out if not needed.
  
  
• The training room could become a much needed, enlarged council chamber.
  
  
• Perhaps one or two existing bays might be retained for a downtown, quick response engine but the third bay could be an ideal and urgently needed location for the public restrooms.
  
  
• The house on the alley could then be sold for about $150,00 to 175,000.
  
  
• The need to consider purchase of the Browne Lumber property disappears saving a huge amount we probably can't afford anyway.
  
  
• If the middle bay isn't needed it could become a dandy mini-museum housing the 1923 Cadillac fire truck which needs a safe and secure home.
  
  
• Town would no longer get billed for mutual aid like the $11,000 it just had to pay Fire District 3 for mutual aid on the grocery store fire.
  
  
• Town would no longer be billed by the Sheriff for Dispatch services ($5600).
  
  
• Town would no longer have the very serious liability and administrative staff-time (King estimates about 1 hour/day) of running a fire department.
  
  
• Some parking could be reclaimed on West St.
  
  

While a public vote is needed for annexation, merging could be accomplished without a vote through various inter-local agreement options listed on www.mrsc.org/pubsafe/fire/ig-fire.htm. Many jurisdictions have used this method and follow it with a levy vote later. It might take a year or two to get a fire levy passed here.

Howard Rosenfeld