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McLane Fire Department
Our local services need our support and involvement.
Go to the McLane Fire site for contact &
additional information
* October 2004 * from the Cooper Point Assn.
Newsletter
The Cooper
Point Association Board of Directors recently endorsed the Fire District’s
proposal for substantial capital improvements and it is important for our
membership to understand why. But first a review of the proposal.
In the
summer of 2003 McLane Fire District #9 approached the Cooper Point
Association seeking a member to join a new Citizen Advisory Board to review
the department’s strategic plan, as well as its fiscal and operational
capabilities.The Board also was to guide the development of a capital
improvement plan for the Department. The Citizen Advisory Board membership
includes Chuck McKinney (representing the Cooper Point Association), George Ziesemer (Delphi Valley), Keith Reiling (Summit Lake), and Michel George
(The Evergreen State College).
The Advisory Board met numerous times over a
nine month period to encourage the fire department to develop an in-depth
analysis of the programmatic needs of the its district. The result was a
70-page document outlining the very specific needs of our community as it
relates to fire services on Cooper Point. The Citizen Advisory Board’s
conclusion highlighted eight specific points:
- 1) Construction of a new main
fire station of approximately 16,000 square feet
- 2) Construction of a new
fire station at Summit Lake of approximately 6,000 square feet
- 3) Expansion
of parking facilities at the Cooper Point station
- 4) Purchase of one rescue
unit
- 5) Purchase of two Class A Pumper trucks
- 6) Purchase of one Tender
(water tanker) truck
- 7) Purchase of one Utility truck; an
- 8) Initiation of
discussions with The Evergreen State College to relocate the 36th Avenue
station to a site on Campus.
The Citizen Advisory Board recommended to the
Board of Fire Commissions that a bond issue be placed on the fall election
ballot. (This measure has since passed, with an approval of over 68%.) Some
significant questions were raised of the need for new bonds to fund this
work. After careful deliberation the CPA Board supported the ballot
measure, citing the Fire District’s extensive research of its needs, its
public outreach efforts and its eagerness to create - and heed the advice of
- the Citizen Advisory Board. The process, though lengthy, was both thorough
and professional. The CPA Board will update its members on the next steps
as they unfold.
* September 2004 * - Fire District Bond Issue
Thurston County Auditor September 14th, 2004 Primary Election Results
Final Unofficial Report: 9/16/04 4:44pm
Thurston County Fire Protection District No. 9 - McLane
Proposition No. 1 Fire Protection Bonds
Approved 1,049 Votes
( 68.07 % )
Rejected
492 Votes ( 31.93 % )
Information about the Bone Issue is on the McLane Fire
Website
see their pages: Bond
Issue & Research
Report
Community meetings were held Aug 18 & 19
* April 2004 * - McLane Citizen Advisory Board
Update - by Chuck McKinney
Last fall the McLane Fire Department organized a citizen advisory board to
review the department’s operational and capital needs for the future. The
advisory board is nearing completion of its work and will be making a
recommendation to the Board of Fire Commissioners in the near future.
Over the past five-months the advisory board has reviewed the fire
department’s organizational structure, response coverage and equipment, as
well as touring its facilities. The advisory board (in conjunction with the
Fire Chief) has explored many options regarding the future operational and
capital needs of the fire district.
Following are several key points our CPA representatives suggest be
considered by residents of Cooper Point:
* Junior taxing districts, like the fire department, are facing a very
uncertain operational funding future with recent anti taxing initiatives.
* McLane Fire Department enjoys a beneficial relationship with the South
Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) fire fighter training program – a
positive attribute, as it provides additional volunteers for the department.
* Station 91 on Mud Bay Road faces many challenges from lack of equipment
space, lack of training space, poor ability to meet safety code requirements
and a lack of parking spaces.
* Most of the fire fighting apparatus are nearing or past their
industry-recognized life cycle.
We encourage citizens to talk with a fire department representative at the
CPA annual meeting and/or talk with their fire commissioner, as the McLane
Fire Department will be refining plans for the future during the next couple
of months.
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