SCBC Fire Started in 1973 with funds donated by the Faucett Lions - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

SCBC Fire • Started in 1973 with funds donated by the Faucett Lions Club • 1941 International pumper – Agency House • 1953 GMC pumper – Faucett House • There has always only been one fire department – South Central Buchanan Co.

Original Agency House 1973

Current Agency House 1996

Original Faucett House 1973

Current Faucett House 1986

SCBC Fire • Voted as a Fire Protection District 1989 • Obtained a $0.30 Operating Levy in 1995 • 22 Volunteers respond for both Agency and Faucett Fire Houses • Volunteers receive $10 per call to help cover response expenses • 300 to 350 calls for service annually • 70-80 % of calls are medical in nature

SCBC Fire • Protects 80 square miles of Buchanan Co. • 8 miles of underground pipelines • 10 miles of interstate highway • Estimated households: 2000 • Estimated population served: 5000

SCBC Fire • Fire fighters are involved in many other community organizations: – American Red Cross – Region H Hazmat Team – Buchanan Co. Sheriff Reserves – Churches – Local Emergency Planning Committee – Mid Buchanan event participation and fire prevention

SCBC Fire • Fire Staff put in many hours annually to keep the department in readiness – Training 450 hours – Vehicle and building maintenance 380 hours – Administrative and reports 990 hours – Incident response 795 hours

Challenges of the existing fire house • Three vehicles crowded into a two bay fire house • Extremely steep drive • Difficult to maneuver apparatus into the fire house in bad weather • Patrons of the ball field park on the drive during ball season

Challenges of the existing fire house • Low ceiling in the training room makes some training exercises difficult • Not enough working room in the bay area to work on trucks during inclement weather • Existing fire house will not meet the future needs of the community or department

Reasons for a new fire house • Larger space will allow for more specialized apparatus that will assist in lowering ISO ratings (aerial unit, rescue truck, brush truck) • Extra bays will allow Buchanan Co. EMS to park an ambulance in the fire house during appropriate times • More space will allow the department to grow as the district grows

Reasons for a new fire house • Health and wellness space and resting quarters (both fire houses) will allow Buchanan County EMS and SCBC staff to man the fire house when appropriate and when the opportunity is there • Staffing the fire house will improve response time and allow for better ISO ratings

Develop A Plan • For the anticipated needs of the community • Fire Fighters were asked for suggestions of how to best meet current and future needs • SCBC Board was consulted • Experienced architect in designing fire houses was consulted • Concept presented here is the result of this collaboration

Concept Drawing

Proposed Fire House

Financially Responsible • Original $0.30 (1995) levy has never been increased • SCBC Boards and Command Staff have invested wisely: – New fire house at Agency – 7 new fire apparatus – Purchased 9 acres in Faucett for a new fire house – Maintained a reserve for emergency needs – Current budget will not allow for a new fire house

Proposed Solution • Build a new fire house in Faucett on already purchased property • Extend an 8 inch main water line to the west side of 371 Hwy., to supply the new fire house • Elevate the grade of the new fire house by about 3 feet • Add 1600 sq. feet to the Agency house for resting quarters, showers, locker room, health and wellness area.

Funding Opportunities Researched • Explored opportunities for grants • Researched fund raising opportunities • Considered lease-purchase options • Evaluated levy and/or bond options • Result: best investment is a lease-purchase paid for by a $0.36 levy with a sunset clause. After 10 years, the sunset clause will decrease the levy by $0.32. The remaining $0.04 of the levy would become part of the current operating levy for maintenance of the new fire house.

Annual Household Investment Based on market value $100,000 home 150,000 home 200,000 home 250,000 home ______________________________________________________________________ 68.40 102.60 136.80 171.00 5.70/mo. 8.55/mo. 11.40/mo. 14.25/mo This only affects your fire protection tax.

After the sunset clause • $0.04 will be retained on the operating levy to maintain the new and larger facilities at both fire houses • Levy retention per year – $100,000 home: $7.60 – $150,000 home: $11.40 – $200,000 home: $15.20 – $250,000 home: $19.00

• Questions?