August 29, 2022 |
Today is the last day for residents of unincorporated areas of Carbon County to register as a candidate for the board of directors of the proposed Carbon County fire district.
A fire protection district will be a ballot proposition for voters who reside outside of municipalities in the county in the November General Election.
If approved, the district will be governed by a board of five directors. County Clerk Gwyn Bartlett told commissioners last week that the deadline to file to serve on the board is today.
Pictured above: An aircraft spreads fire retardant near a rural home in Carbon County during the Pedro Mountain Fire in 2019. Photo courtesy of Carbon County Fire Warden John Rutherford.
In a response to a question about whether at least five individuals have applied for the open seats, Clerk Bartlett said at least three candidates have filed.
The ballot proposition asks voters, “Shall a fire protection district be authorized and established in the unincorporated areas of Carbon County, Wyoming whose purpose is to protect from fire all persons within it boundaries.” The tax levy to fund first responders would not exceed three mills.
A mill is equal to $1 for each $1,000 in assessed property value. The three mill levy, based on last year’s evaluation, would equal about $3 million.
Carbon County Fire Warden John Rutherford said municipalities decided they did not want to participate so the boundaries of the proposed fire district are only the unincorporated areas of the county. During an interview with Bigfoot 99 earlier this summer, Rutherford explained the two parts of the ballot proposition.
County Commissioner Travis Moore, during the same interview, said that the people who have voiced interest in serving on the board are doing it for different reasons than what sometimes draws other people to run for other public offices.
Commissioner Moore said the county fire department is operating on a bare-bones operational budget of $300,000 which does not include capital expenses for equipment such as fire trucks.
Fire Warden John Rutherford said the county is not required by state statute to provide fire services. He credited with commissioners for “doing the right thing” and providing the service. Rutherford added that the real costs of funding the service outpace what commissioners can allocate and that a stable funding source is needed.
Commissioner Moore characterized the budget proposition to create a fire prevention district as an investment in public safety.
How the district is organized, and the strategies that are used to deploy resources, will be the direct result of the guidance and leadership from the board of directors who are elected in November. Today is the last day to file with Carbon County Clerk.
For more information about the proposed Carbon County fire district visit https://www.carboncountyfiredistrict.com/
Related: County voters to weigh in on establishment of fire protection district in unincorporated areas
