RE: Fire Station Question

[Cindy Agidius <CAgidius@women.state.id.us>]

 From the sounds of the dialog it sounds like most folks participating in
this discussion have a positive  attitude towards the new fire station but
would like some spec's on cost.  The presentation yesterday by the MFD to
the Moscow Chamber of Commerce was a good one and I thought they said
(anyone correct me if my memory is wrong) it was 4.50/$100,000.  As to
insurance I think you should check with your agent.  But, there are some
other points here that I think bear mentioning, food for thought maybe...

-if this bond passes it will be the first fire station that the city will
have built-the others were done with volunteer funds.(maybe the fire dept
could give the folks working on the 1912 funding some tips!)

-if the city had to pay for the wages of this volunteer fire department it
would cost much more than this fire station ever will...if you don't believe
me take a look at Pullman's budget and see what portion of their budget is
allotted to wages, insurance, building/vehicle maintanence and employee
benefits for fire fighters.

As to whether the county gets use of this facility...I'm sure we will.  As
one who lived in the city for 17 years I have great respect and appreciation
for our volunteer fire fighters...now that I am in the county I appreciate
all fire fighters even more, it is pretty scary out there on the mountain in
August-especially when it is so hot and dry.  It is a rare occasion that a
county fire doesn't have city fire fighters on sight also...they don't see
the lines.  As a county resident I would be glad to vote in favor of a fire
bond, I hope the commissioners will see fit to ask the residents of the
county to chip in their fair share if needed to participate in this well
needed facility.

Cindy Agidius

-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Force
To: Vision2020
Sent: 10/18/01 9:23 AM
Subject: RE: Fire Station Question

Under Idaho law, impact fees may be charged only in counties whose
population exceeds 200,000.
 
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Ron Force                 rforce@uidaho.edu
Dean of Library Services  (208) 885-6534
University of Idaho     Moscow 83844-2350
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-----Original Message-----
From: John Danahy [mailto:JDANAHY@turbonet.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 5:21 PM
To: Vision2020
Subject: Re: Fire Station Question


The question regarding insurance rates is a good one.  If we do not
build the new station, will my insurance rates go up?  Or will only
those residents outside of the needed response time have their rates go
up?  If I am paying x amount for fire insurance now, why will it
increase when for me the location of the station is mute?
 
As for impact fees, I feel the question goes farther than the simple
idea of impact fees.  When the various city groups ( I.E.: council, P&Z,
etc) allow increased growth, the growth impacts all of us.  Some growth
reduces tax burdens, some growth increases it.  The need for a new
station as a result of expansion northward should have been considered
and been part of the planning all the way along, and yes impact fees to
support part of the construction should be considered, with the rest of
the cost supported by tax bonds.  The need for the station would not
exist without the growth!
 
Finally, the idea that fire is limited by boundaries, or that response
to a fire is based on location is unseemly.  When there is an accident
on 95N, I've seen both rural and city fire trucks respond.  And that is
how it should be!  Fire knows no civil boundaries, rather it is a
communal problem.  The need for a new station to serve the north of the
city and the county is a communal need and should be shared by all.
 
John
 
John and Laurie Danahy
jdanahy@turbonet.com <mailto:jdanahy@turbonet.com>