August 31, 2023 |
Photo – Carbon County Fire Protection District Logo – Bigfoot 99 file photo
The Board of Carbon County Commissioners has agreed to fund the newly formed Fire Protection District until it begins to receive tax funds.
At the August 15th, county commissioners meeting, Carbon County Fire Warden John Rutherford asked the board for $25,000 to pay for the operation of the fire protection district. Warden Rutherford said the money was needed until the voter-approved mill levy goes into effect this October.
The Fire Protection District was voted into existence during last year’s general election. A 3-mill levy assessed on the property values in the county’s unincorporated areas will underwrite the costs. One mill is equal to one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value of a property.
At the August 15th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, County Clerk Gwen Barlett asked Rutherford if the fire protection district needed the money immediately. The fire warden said county funding was needed as soon as possible to avoid using money already set aside for other purposes.
The commissioners agreed to provide the Carbon County Fire Protection District with $25,000. A formal vote to approve the funding will take place during the next board meeting on September 5th.
Following the funding request at the August 15th commissioners meeting, Fire Warden Rutherford updated the board on the progress being made with the fire protection district. Rutherford said the district still needs to establish written agreements with other county agencies.
Rutherford said he was still waiting for required legal paperwork from the county. Along with documents regarding the procurement of firefighting equipment, Rutherford said he needed a purchase agreement for the former Interim Justice Center on Murray Street. While the Carbon County Courthouse and Carbon Building renovation project was taking place, all judicial activities were moved into the building located at 812 East Murray Street. With the courthouse renovations complete, the Murray Street building sat empty until the Carbon County Fire Protection District began leasing space within the building in July.
At the August 15th commissioners meeting, Fire Warden Rutherford said the fire protection district board needs to have agreements in place throughout the county before the district can begin responding to fires. Rutherford asked County Attorney Ashley Davis to expedite the required paperwork.
Speaking to Bigfoot99 this past June, Fire Warden Rutherford said the Carbon County Fire Protection District board hopes to begin responding to fires by July of next year.
