COLORADO COUNTY — Colorado County is poised to vote on the creation of an ESD in the upcoming election. Several town hall meetings have been given with mixed results and emotions. An Emergency Services District (ESD) for Colorado County would be in line with many counties surrounding Colorado County. However, questions arise regarding the financial efficiency and efficacy of an ESD.
Recently, several questions, with some being answered, were sourced to the Banner. This list of questions was provided to attorney, Brian Emmel, who represents the volunteer fire departments on the ESD matter for rebuttal or addition to the answers of the question. For- mer firefighters and concerned citizens have asked these questions: Concerned citizens ask:
The ESD creates a new governmental entity funded with a property tax. That is a fact.
- Who would have final control of the fire department's assets? If the ESD assumes ownership of the fire depart ment equipment, they would have the authority to relocate and dispose of, etc. of that equipment. The governing board would have the power to move an apparatus from one fire department to another or even dispose of a truck. All the apparatus, say, in Columbus, are in the name of the city, whether the fire de partment or the city or a combination of both, purchased this equipment. Ownership would be a problem.
- An office location with employee(s) would have to be funded with the ESD money to conduct normal business operations.
- If the City of Columbus votes to opt-out and not participate fully in the
ESD, what happens to the fire and rescue coverage outside the city limits? Who
covers what or would coverage stop at
the city limits?
- If Columbus or more volunteer fire
departments join the ESD, would my
property taxes go down accordingly?
- By state law, the City of Columbus must provide a pension plan for its vol- unteer firefighters. Current participation is in the State plan. If the ESD passes
in Columbus, then there would be ESD
#! instead of a volunteer fire department and technically no volunteer fire depart ment. Will the ESD continue to fund the pension participation for the firefighters?
- What will happen to the dispatch service now being provided by the CCSO at no cost to the fire departments?
- What happens to the worker's comp
coverage for the volunteers once the ESD goes into effect?
- Are all operational costs on equip-
ment the responsibility of the ESD?
- Who has ownership of the fire sta -
tion facilities? Can dollars be used for real estate purchases or construction?
These and other questions, which will appear in next week's edition of The Banner Press Newspaper, are being asked and need to be answered so everyone may make an informed decision on voting day. These questions and more may be answered at a town hall meeting scheduled in Eagle Lake tonight (March 20) at 6 p.m. at the Eagle Lake Civic Center.
Other town hall meetings will be held prior to voting.
