Local News

Fire District 6 holds meetings on temporary levy lid lift

May 29, 2014

Okanogan County Fire District 6 invites the public to comment on its proposed 20-year levy lid lift for capital facility improvements:

· Monday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m. – Winthrop Fire Station, 223 Englar St.

· Monday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. – Winthrop Fire Station, 223, Englar St.

The primary purpose of the lid lift is to build a district owned fire station in Winthrop. If funding permits, minor repairs would be made to the Carlton and Mazama stations, as well.

The lid lift came about as a result of concerns for firefighter safety at the current Winthrop station. The station is leased from the Town of Winthrop and the site cannot accommodate the changes needed to correct the safety issues. Last year, state officials found six areas where clearance between engines and emergency personnel were too close. Firefighters changing into gear for emergency calls have 12 inches or less between them and a moving 50,000 pound fire engine. Poor clearance around the engines makes it impossible for drivers to see where people might be as they head out for a call. These unsafe operating conditions could result in volunteers being injured or killed.

Unsafe operating conditions also have impacted the fire district’s ability to recruit and retain volunteers. Participation at the Winthrop station has declined to just 10 volunteers in 2014 when a minimum of 25 is needed. Even if Fire District 6 could recruit enough volunteers, there is no space for them to store or get into their gear. In fact, it would make safety conditions at the station worse with the additional crowding.

The resolution would ask voters to approve a temporary 20-year levy lid lift for $2.4 million in capital facility improvements on the November General Election ballot. The original proposal rejected by voters in 2006 was for $5 million. The lid lift would cost an additional 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, or approximately $34 per year ($2.83 per month) for the owner of a $200,000 home.

More than 90 percent of the fire district’s emergency responders are volunteers. Relying on volunteers saves fire district taxpayers $2.3 million per year in personnel costs. The Winthrop Station receives more emergency calls than any other. Winthrop volunteers respond to all emergency calls that come into Twisp and Mazama and 60% of Carlton’s calls.

Public comment is invited at both meetings, and the Board of Fire Commissioners will vote on the resolution at its July meeting. Community members who are unable to attend are encouraged to send their comments to Okanogan County Fire District 6, P.O. Box 895, Winthrop, WA. 98862 or email Fire Chief Don Waller at dwaller@okanoganfd6.org.