Firefighters on staff aim of proposal
From our weekly issue dated July 16, 2008
Batallion Chief Ken Gavlik checks equipment after a recent fire. (Photo by Dale & Elaine Sandberg, IVFD Media Dept.)
Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD) is coming back to the ballot in November with a five-year levy proposal to fund 24-hour staffing of two valley fire stations.
The levy, a recycled measure rejected by voters in May, would raise $762,843 per year.
Among the many reasons IVFD Chief Harry Rich gave for returning with the levy were that it would give the district the full-time staff to facilitate fire safety planning and surveys, fire prevention, and public assistance. Also, the district has applied for a federal grant for funding additional personnel, which is contingent on the district providing matching funds.
The measure would increase the tax revenue by $1.68 per $1,000 of assessed value. The district’s permanent tax rate is $1.87 per $1,000, with a bond of 0.5059-cents per $1,000.
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Rich said that prior to the election, he will hold “as many town hall meetings as possible so the community can really be in tune with what we have to do.” Noting that he’s got an uphill battle, Rich said, “The community has to get interested. This directly affects them.”
Full-time staffing has become necessary, Rich said, because although the district has some 36 dedicated volunteers, only 16 are fire-suppression certified. That number is down because of the massive time commitments, soon to include 120 hours per year of continued training to maintain certification.
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“It’s mandated training that these people have to perform to maintain their association with us,” said Rich, without which the district would lose accreditation.
Furthermore, many IVFD volunteers work in Grants Pass or are otherwise unavailable to respond to emergencies during the work day, Rich said.
Rich added that the district is examining ways to save district dollars by evaluating the number and type of events to which IVFD responds. He’s recently established a committee to examine the type and frequency of calls to which firefighters respond, only to be told to return or have American Medical Response reach an incident before them.
“Last year at this time we were at $50,000 for fuel,” Rich said, “this year it’s $80,000.”
The ballot measure was to be in the Josephine County Clerk’s Office by Monday, July 14, Rich said.
