[Honews] New Albany Fire Protection

[Robert Headrick]

I have copied an email I received from Jamie Noel (Fire Chief). 
Hopefully this will give a little more detail.  I am personally in favor
of the fire districting.  We can't ignore the growth this area has seen
in the last few years.  Our property taxes will go up, although not near
the amount we would see if we are annexed.  This seems to be the most
cost effective solution to receive improved fire protection and to rid
ourselves of the Trustee whom has wasted our tax dollars.  

Please attend this meeting, write a letter to the Trustee's office,
and/or sign the petition.

Thank You,
Robert Headrick


Please forward this email. There is a New Albany Township Advisory
Board meeting Wed. November 9, 2005 6:30PM on the second floor of the
Floyd Co. Courthouse. Please attend this meeting if you can to support
the fire department. 

 

November 8, 2005

 

Dear Homeowner,

 

There have been several articles in the newspaper recently about
changes in your fire protection area.  To clarify, the areas surrounding
the City of New Albany are primarily New Albany Township.  There's a
small area that belongs to Franklin Township.  If you received this
letter, you probably live in one of these Townships.

 

For five years, the New Chapel Fire Company has provided you with fire
service.  We've done our best to go above and beyond (on a very
limited budget).  We believe we've met that goal * based on the
positive feedback we continually receive.

 

We'd like to continue serving this community.  Several months ago, we
began exploring the idea to create a Fire Protection District.  After
hearing this news, the New Albany Township Trustee, Tom Cannon, made a
last-minute decision to replace this fire department in six weeks * on
Dec. 31.  Why?  If the Fire Protection District is approved, the
Township Trustee will no longer be responsible for the department's
oversight.  He will lose his authority.

 

We'd like you to make an informed decision.  Here are the advantages
of forming a Fire Protection District:

 

·    Staffing will go from current level of two firefighters/EMT's on
duty 24 hours a day (total of 6) to four firefighter/EMT's (total of
12).  This means a fire truck can leave the station immediately when
called.  The volunteers, when they arrive, can ride a later truck.

·    Continue to use volunteer members who live in New Albany Township.


·    Aggressive volunteer recruitment (and create long-term retention
program). 

·    Stable funding that could grow (with public hearings and approval
procedures) as our community grows and our emergency responses continue
to increase.

·    A better fire protection rating.  (Did you know that your
homeowner's insurance premiums are affected by how well staffed the
fire department is?  The better rating we receive, the lower your
premiums are.)

·    Continue to provide Paramedic Ambulance service (highest level of
pre-hospital care). 

·    Floyd County Commissioners would appoint a three-person board to
oversee funding.  



 

 

Here are the disadvantages of the Township Trustee's plan to hire a
new fire department: 

 

·    The majority of the Trustee's proposed fire crewmembers live in
Greenville Township, and their spokesman lives in Georgetown Township. 
The volunteers must drive from Greenville to the fire station.

·    The Trustee's amended plan will have 3-4 paid members at the
station during the day.  There will be no paid crew at the station on
evenings and weekends.  This means a fire truck can't leave the
station until enough volunteers arrive * from Greenville.  

·    They will only provide first responder medical care - the lowest
level of pre-hospital care.  Paramedic Ambulance service wouldn't be
available.

·    The Trustee's firefighting fund does not grow.  It's
controlled by a maximum tax levee.  Therefore, the department is forced
to operate with the same budget, even when the communi
ty grows.   

  

The concept of a Fire Protection District isn't new or unique.  Many
other townships in Indiana have a Fire District.  

 

How will this affect your wallet?  There's a chance that the
firefighting tax rate could increase slightly.  Here's a worst-case
estimate (for a home that doesn't have homestead or mortgage
exceptions, and doesn't include county income tax property tax
replacement) * a house worth $200,000 may pay no more than $49
annually.  Remember:  you should receive a savings on your insurance
premium for the better rating.

 

You should have received a Petition in the mail.  Please sign it.  If
you've lost it, let us know.  We'll send you another one.  New
Chapel Fire Co. is committed to providing the best fire protection and
highest level of pre-hospital medical care possible.   Please call me on
my mobile (502) 639-4973 if you have any questions. We care about our
community! 

 

 

 

Yours in safety,

 

Jamey Noel

 

Jamey Noel

Fire Chief