A citizen's letter to Fire District 13 commissioners: Proposed new Fire Station East of Swinomish Channel

Strategic decisions regarding fire safety and placement of firefighting facilities in Skagit Valley are important decisions that have long term budget and service capacity implications.

At the Dec 21 meeting of District 13 Commissioners, Fire Chief Horn stated that District 13 is considering the purchase of property east of the Swinomish Channel to construct a new fire station serving eastern portions of the District 13 service area.

A decision to undertake a property search for a new station implies that appropriate analysis and evaluation has already taken place to support such action. Many questions need to be answered as part of any analysis for such a new facility. For example:

1. What service gap is the proposed new facility intended to fill and what is the service radius of the new facility?

2. Will a new station be manned 24/7 or will it be considered simply as a satellite facility for pre-positioning of firefighting equipment?

3. Will a new station house 24/7 Emergency Medical Teams or will EMT services continue to operate from Station 2 headquarters?

4. What estimate of capital cost has been established for property acquisition, planning, design and construction of the proposed new facility?

5. Has a financial plan been put together to adequately fund the capital estimate?

6. What is the proposed impact on District ratepayers to fund the new facility and over what period of time will debt service be carried by ratepayers in District 13 to satisfy capital needs?

These are among the many questions that typically need to be answered prior to embarking on a property acquisition phase for any new project.

We know that Fire District 13 Commissioners are well aware of their fiduciary responsibility to properly guide planning and decision-making for the District and to otherwise fulfill their oversight responsibility with the District. The siting and planning for a new District 13 station is an important decision that requires appropriate due diligence in its implementation.

The Skagit Beach Community Association (Channel Drive community) would like to work with District 13 commissioners in the evaluation of options for a potential new station site. In the interim, our Association will be having a membership meeting early in the first quarter of 2018. We would like to share with our members any materials or analysis you can provide regarding the planning for a new fire station in District 13.

Dave Buchan is president of the Skagit Beach Community Association. He sent this letter to the Fire District 13 commissioners after making similar comments at their Dec. 21 meeting.