PART 3 OF 3: SJI Fire & Rescue hasn’t had a levy increase in 61 years – They say it’s crucial now (18 mins)
A SANJUANS.TODAY VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
Originally Published Saturday, August 31, 2024
Video Directed by Dave Schnuckel
Audio direction by Jeremy Tyler
Written summary by Jeff Noedel
Produced at SanJuans.Today Studios in Friday Harbor, WA
On Tuesday, Heather Spaulding and Jeff Noedel spoke with Commissioner Dwight Colley, Chair Fire District #3, and Noel Monin, Chief, San Juan Island Fire & Rescue. In this, the third of three segments, the subjects include a discussion of Proposition 1, a proposed levy adjustment to increase fire district’s levy by 70 cents. The last levy adjustment was when John F. Kennedy was president.
As the chief, Monin does not have a public position on the levy, but he is available to answer questions. Commissioner Colley did a lot of the talking on the levy subject.
At 2:30 minutes into the discussion, Colley is asked to explain the need for the levy. “Inflation has eaten us alive,” he said. He said the allowable 1 percent cap cannot keep up, and the reserve is now largely drained. A recent reserve balance was $1,700.
The department has many needs:
- equipment needs and upkeep of the aging equipment
- the main fire station needs a new sprinkler system and other work
- inflation
(5:55) “Without the lift,” said Colley, “we’re going to have to make some personnel changes, and go back to not having 24/7 coverage. I hope the community understands that.”
(8:55) Said Chief Monin, “before we went to 24/7 model, our reaction time (from alarm from dispatch to wheels turning) was 8-1/2 minutes. With a staffed station, the benchmark is 90 seconds. Short reaction times matter because fire doubles in size every minute.
If the levy lift does not pass, Monin said 24/7 coverage by paid staff in living in the firehouse would be suspended at nights. Paid staff would work 40-hour work weeks. Coverage at nights would be volunteer only. It was run this way for decades.
(11:45) Does the public know that the 24/7 paid staff coverage is at risk? Said Colley, “Nobody likes to cough up the extra funding. Once the facts are out there… the community will respond. Because they know what’s good for them. And they know in history, no one was ripped off by the fire service. This is the price it’s going to cost you to stay safe.”
(15:55) Jeff announces the new name for the old CNL2.com: SanJuans.Today.
This SanJuans.Today video is approximately 18 minutes in duration. This is the third segment in a series of three.
Additional links:
- San Juan Island Fire & Rescue (website)
- San Juan Island Fire & Rescue (Facebook)
- San Juan County Fire Marshal’s Office (County website)
- San Juan Island EMS (website)
Copyright 2024 CNL2 Media, a Washington nonprofit corporation. All rights reserved.
