Agenda • Fairview Fire Department history • Fairview’s current status • Issue at hand • Taxation • The Process • How does this affect you • Next Steps
FRFD History • Establish 1963 • 22 Charter Members • Recognized the need for fire protection • Original station built by hand • Fairview Community Land • Station 1 rebuilt in 2000
FRFD History • Revenue - Fundraising • BBQ’s • Fish Fry’s • Turkey Shoots • “Passing the Hat” • Fire Tax began in late 70’s/Early 80’s
Enhancing Your Service • 1982 – First Wake County Dept. to implement “First Responder” for medical calls • 1990 – Built Station 2, at 1010 and Lake Wheeler Rd • 1994 – Rescue/Extrication Services • 1997 – Daytime Career Staff • 2001 – Improved to ISO Class 6 • 2010 – 24 hour staff • 2018 – Improved to ISO Class 3
Current Status • Ten-Ten Fire District • 24 square miles • Over $2.1 Billion in property value • Generates over $2 Million in Fire Tax Revenue • 17,000 Citizens • Last year – 1667 Emergency Calls • Over 4 a day
Current Status • Non-Profit Organization • Contract with Wake County • There is NOT a “Wake County Fire Department” • Fairview Board of Directors • 9 Members • 283 years combined Fire Service experience • 2 past Fire Chiefs • Deputy Director of NCSFA • Extensive administration experience
Current Status • 16 Career Staff • 35 Volunteers • ISO Class 3 • 1157 Volunteer and Combination FD’s in NC • 0 – Class 1’s • 4 – Class 2’s • 37 – Class 3’s • Garner Suburban is a Class 4
Current Status • Fairview Station 2 • 1046 Calls for Service • 870 in the County area • 176 in a Municipal area
Wake Co. Fire Commission • 17 Members – 11 that Vote • 4 – Fire Service Representatives • 1 – Wake County Commissioner • 1 – President of the Wake Co. Firefighters Association • 5 – Citizen Appointees • 1 – Municipal Representative for each participating municipality • Director of Wake Co. Fire Services (non-voting) • Review items and Make recommendations to the County Commissioners
Issue at hand • Wake County Staff is recommending: • Cost sharing with the Town of Garner to fund a new fire station - Garner Fire Station 5 – Caddy Road • Closing Fairview Station 2 • Giving Garner FD a large portion of the Fairview district and tax revenue • Almost 10 square miles • 4,500 Residents • $500,000 Per Year
Issue at hand • Fairview Station 2: • Building is paid in full • Land rent $100/year • $35,400/ year to operate • Building will be returned to the Land Owner if closed • $500,000+ investment, LOST • New Garner station construction costs - $5,000,000 + • Raleigh Station 6 - $5 Million • Raleigh Station 14 - $6.1 Million • Raleigh Station 12 - $6.2 Million • Raleigh Station 22 - $7.4 Million
Service Tax v. Fire Tax • 1999 – Fire Service Tax Implemented • All County Fire Tax is “pooled” and each FD must request funds from the “pool” • YOUR Ten-Ten Fire District generates just over $2,000,000/year in Fire Tax • Fairview receives only $1,650,000 of that • The remaining $400,000 of YOUR Fire Tax is given to other FD’s in Wake County • County Staff is recommending to give away another $500,000 AND close YOUR local fire station
Open Process? • February 22, 2017 – Steering Committee meeting, Director Campasano says “A big fat Zero” when asked how many stations are going to be closed. • April 11, 2017 – Lunch meeting about Funding with Chris Pierce and Director Campasano • April 27, 2017 – County Staff talked with Chief Spain about a joint Garner/Fuquay Station at 1010 and Lake Wheeler - that’s not occurring
Open Process? • April 2, 2018 – County Staff reviewed Budget Committee requests with Chief Spain; 6 new stations were requested…..None from Garner • May 29 –Director Campasano and Deputy Director Alford were present at Fairview’s Board Meeting… NO mention of closure
Open Process? • June 11 – Garner Asst. Chief - tells Chief Spain there has NOT been any discussion at their staff meetings about a new station for the past 6 months • June 18– We received word that Garner Chief has announced to his staff…they are building Station 5 and Fairview 2 will be closing
Open Process? • June 22 – Deputy Director Alford calls Chief Spain requesting data on what funds will be saved by closing Station 2 • June 27 – Deputy Alford met with Fairview Chief Spain and said “Fairview would not know the plan until it was Bulletproof” • July 19 – Station 2 closure is on the Fire Commission agenda
Open Process? • July 19 – Fire Commission meeting, Director Campasano stated they had been working on this since March 2017 • July 19 – Garner Town Manger stated at the Fire Commission Meeting – building of Garner Sta. 5 is NOT contingent on County assistance • To date, Fairview has not been asked for any input or alternatives
Open Process? • July 19 - Director Campasano recommends having the Fire Commission approve the closure, THEN notify the citizens • July 19 Fire Commission audio recording Part 2 at the 59:30 mark • Does this appear to be an open process to you?
How does this affect you? • Increased response time to over 90% of the citizens protected by Fairview Station 2 • Reduced resources in YOUR time of need • Especially during times of high need • Storms • Natural Disasters • Large scale incidents • Increased insurance rates for Commercial Business, Churches, and Educational Institutions
How does this affect you? • What happens when Garner FD has duplicate/overlapping calls? • May 26, 2016 – Garner Cleveland Record quotes Garner Fire Chief, Matt Poole • “1000 times a year we have duplicate or overlapping calls. That detrimentally impacts the level of service we’re able to provide the citizens”
How does this affect you? • This is a clear indicator that many times, Garner Station 5 will be empty leaving the area previously serviced by Fairview Station 2 unprotected • This can be reduced by working with both departments collectively
Question • April 23, 2018 – Wake County provides Fairview with new district maps, increasing our district size • Within 60 days; we learned from a neighbor: • Wake County is cost sharing to build Garner Station 5 • Closing Fairview Station 2 • Giving away another $500,000 of YOUR tax dollars, annually • Why? – MONEY, Garner wants County money to build and/or operate a new fire station for the Town
Question • The Town of Garner annexed at 401/1010 into the city is .81 square miles • County Staff is recommending to close YOUR local fire station that: • Serves 10 square miles • Is debt free • Less expensive to operate • Provides more responders • Staffed engine plus 35 volunteers • WHY? – Money for Garner FD
Question • Why does Garner need a new station, when they have one within the normal 5 mile district? • Garner Station 2 is 4.7 miles from 401 and Ten-Ten • Garner FD’s contract with the Town requires an engine in the town at all times, why not in their County contract?
Question • With increasing number of homes, citizens, traffic and emergency calls each year - Why the sudden need to close Fairview Sta. 2? – MONEY for Garner
How can you help? • The voice of reason must come from you! • Attend the Fire Commission Meeting on August 16 • Received word on August 1, work session only for this project • Call, write, email, share on Social Media with all the Wake County Commissioners
Questions and/or Comments
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