Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue reduces bond amount

Wed, Jan 02, 2013

Kittitas County Fire District 2 (serving the community as Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue) has reduced the amount of a bond it will consider asking voters to approve in the April Special Election. The purpose of the bond is to build a new headquarters fire station.

The original project proposal called for $12.6 million for two stations, but members of the fire district’s Citizen Advisory Group expressed concern over the amount. Instead, the fire district is seeking approval for approximately $8 million to build one new headquarters station. The final amount will be determined in the next two weeks once cost estimates are finalized.

“It’s important to listen to the people who pay the bills,” said Fire Chief John Sinclair. “We have significantly reduced the size and scope of the bond based on input from our community.”

Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue currently leases station space from the city, which needs the room for its police department. The fire district plans to move when its lease ends in 2016 to accommodate the city as well as relocate to an area that is more central to a majority of its emergency calls.

In anticipation of this date, the fire district purchased land for a station on East Mountain View Avenue. The fire district is working with state agencies to fund environmental cleanup of the site through a Remedial Action Grant, which is an added benefit to the community. Furthermore, bond financing rates to fund construction of a new station are at historic lows.

“The timing is right to build our own station,” said Chief John Sinclair. “This plan is adequate to meet our needs and will improve response times for a majority of our emergency calls.”

The Board of Fire Commissioners for Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue will discuss the pared-down proposal at its upcoming meeting on Thursday, January 9th at 7:00 pm at 102 North Pearl Street in Ellensburg. The public is invited to attend and share their thoughts. The commissioners will vote on a resolution to place a bond on the April ballot at their February 13th regular board meeting.

Individuals who cannot attend the meeting are encouraged to send their comments to Fire Chief John Sinclair at sinclairj@KVFR.org or by mail: Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 218, Ellensburg, WA 98926. All communication is appreciated and a matter of public record.

Kittitas County Fire District 2 (serving the community as Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue) provides rescue, fire prevention, structural, and wildland fire protection to 28,500 people over 278 square miles. Its paramedic-level ambulance program provides life-saving medical care and transport to 31,000 people over 1,200 square miles. The fire district is debt-free, operates under a balanced budget and has passed all financial and accountability audits by the State of Washington.