April 26, 2023 |
Photo – Carbon County Fire Protection District Logo – Courtesy CCFPD website
Progress continues to be made on the newly formed Carbon County Fire Protection District.
Last November, the voters of Carbon County approved the formation of a fire protection district to provide coverage for all unincorporated areas of the county. The district would be paid using a 3-mill levy, set to take effect this October. The voters agreed and work began to make the Carbon County Fire Protection District a reality.
Forming a completely new agency, from the ground up, has been a daunting task. Homer Beach is president of the Fire Protection District. Speaking at last week’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners Meeting, Beach said things are moving forward smoothly. He said the county’s IT Director Matt Webster has been helping him with phone and computer related problems. Beach said he was very grateful for Webster’s help.
Beach said the fire protection district is close to choosing an attorney. He said he’s interviewed one applicant already. An attorney from Casper has been delayed multiple times because of the weather.
Beach said he wants to interview the lawyer from Natrona County before making a final decision. An attorney is needed because the fire protection district is still finalizing certain policies and directives.
Beach said he is hoping to have a completed set of standard operating guidelines for the Fire Protection District in the near future. He said he’s also working on benefits and a personnel manual, a step necessary for hiring additional employees. Beach explained his pressing need for more staff.
During their March 21st meeting, the county commissioners discussed what to do with the vacant Interim Justice Center, on East Murray Street. The county’s court proceedings were moved to the Interim Justice Center while the County Courthouse was renovated. With work finished on the courthouse, the Interim Justice Center is no longer needed. County Clerk Gwen Bartlett suggested allowing the Fire Protection District to use the building as its headquarters. Beach said he is considering the proposition.
June is budget time in Carbon County. Beach thanked Fire Warden John Rutherford for helping him devise a spending plan. Beach said he’s waiting to find out how much money the Fire Protection District will receive in the coming fiscal year.
To provide coverage across the county, the Fire Protection District needs a signed contract from every municipality. Beach said he’s in talks with the towns, but he can’t offer them any official documents until a budget has been set.
Beach said the Fire Protection District is farther along than he could have hoped for. He offered his gratitude to Clerk Bartlett, IT Director Webster, Fire Warden Rutherford, and everyone who helped.
Beach said he expects the Carbon County Fire Protection District to be fully functional by the end of the year.
