Westside Fire seeking input from taxpayers

DOVER — Public turnout was scant for a Westside Fire District workshop to consider raising its levy rate to improve its level of service and conduct necessary repairs of its fire-fighting equipment.

The district hoped to gain some public feedback on the proposal, but the workshop drew only three members of the public.

Another workshop is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, at the district’s Wrenco station, located at 15 Helen Thompson Road. Fire Commissioner Neal Hewitt said the matter will also be on the board’s monthly agenda so the district can receive input.

“We’re going to decide on any input that we can get,” said Hewitt.

Hewitt said the district has gone line-by-line through its budget to find ways to cut costs, but there is nothing left to cut. The district has halved its chief’s salary and left the position vacant, leaving only two paid firefighters and a band of volunteers to cover a district that covers more than 20 square miles.

Although the district recently found volunteers for its Laclede station and has volunteers for its Wrenco station, there are no volunteers serving out of the Dover station, which officials suspect has to do with the aging demographic in the city.

The district has developed a five-year plan to replace outdated firefighter turnouts and breathing apparatuses, purchase ice rescue equipment, bring vehicles up to snuff and conduct other modest capital improvements.

But that plan, or an interim one to add one more paid position and fill the chief’s slot, cannot move forward without funding.

As a result, the district is contemplating raising the levy rate by 25, 50 or 75 percent, which could bring in an additional $49,305, $98,485 or $147,782, respectively.

“We have to operate safely and we have to operate correctly,” said Hewitt.

The levy question could be put to voters in November.

Although the district did not respond to four messages seeking information about the potential tax increase last week, officials contend they are not ducking the question. Hewitt said the district did not get the messages in time.