It’s time to Improve Fire & Rescue Response Times

It’s time to Improve Fire & Rescue Response Times

I support immediate action to improve Fire & Rescue Response Times in Black Diamond. Unfortunately, the city mismanaged its Fire & Rescue contract so that over the past several years, fire & EMS staff have actually decreased with growth. The Ten Trails Development Agreement included Developer-funded fire & EMS staff increases, but this provision was not enforced.

It is past time to take real action to improve the safety of our community.

OakPointe built a Fire Station on a cost-plus, no ceiling contract with the City to allow their Ten Trails development to expand. After construction, the Mayor and Council said the station is in the wrong location.

The city had no plans to staff the station. After years of delay, the Council is poised to put annexation into a fire district to the Voters. Annexation would double city property taxes.

If voters approve annexation, I’ll support reducing other city property tax rates so residents aren’t double-charged. I also support a requirement in the pre-annexation agreement that developers help fund service expansion, and that taxpayers be given credit for the new, now unused, fire station.

If annexation fails with the voters, we need a backup plan. Mine includes offering a fair contract to Fire & EMS providers, and enforcing developer contributions.

I fully support using the new Lawson Fire Station as a Fire Station. We must go forward, and we can't change the location now.

More city facilities will need expansion with growth, and I will ensure we don’t make similar mistakes as were made with the fire service.