I would invite all district taxpayers including letter writers P. Ricketts and C. Johnson to the next North Whidbey Fire and Rescue commissioners’ meeting. We meet the second Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., Heller Road Fire Station. Come and be heard.

For the second time this year at the October meeting I proposed continuing the fire district public awareness notices in the Whidbey News-Times. This was vetoed.

The cost of a two person crew at the Monroe Station is just over $200,000 plus administrative/ supervision expenses totaling approximately $250,000. This crew reduced response time by 3 minutes over the volunteers.

The commissioners consider the expense against the needs. Current tax revenues have not kept up with inflation.

I have been behind the efforts to secure a second boat. In March of 2009 I proposed a second rescue boat with the help of the Fire Association, the cost to the district would have been $25,000. The proposal was vetoed.

With the shortage of funds, Silver Lake and Polnell fire stations no longer have fire equipment. This area is now covered by Taylor and Heller Road fire stations.

The south area of the Fire District is located between two Advance Life Support units manned by hospital paramedics providing excellent medical coverage for this area.

Assuming in the future the hospital would fund similar monies for a second BLS unit, I would be all for the second BLS unit. Today, I question this would be the best use of $250,000 of tax payers’ money.

Larry Morse

North Whidbey Fire and Rescue Commissioner