Gold Bar, Stanwood fire departments seek to solidify services

GOLD BAR — Two Snohomish County fire departments have measures on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

Fire District 26, in Gold Bar, is seeking $950,000 in bonds for three projects related to buildings and equipment. The North County Regional Fire Authority, based in Stanwood, is asking voters to make permanent its emergency medical services levy. Otherwise, the levy requires a vote every six years. Ballots were mailed out last week.

The proposed bonds for Gold Bar would cost property owners an estimated 22 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. For example, the owner of a $200,000 house would pay about $44 a year.

Fire District 26 would use some of the money to purchase a 1.4-acre property next to Station 54 along U.S. 2. The property would be used to create a training center, Fire Chief Eric Andrews said. For now, the department’s training takes place in the parking lot. The property they have in mind has an assessed value of $111,400, county records show.

Gold Bar has no full-time firefighters and relies on volunteer and part-time crews. The district offers training and experience to draw those folks, many of whom are later hired full-time at other departments, Andrews said.

“We believe by having the best training possible, more people will want to come to Gold Bar and work in that part-time, volunteer-type environment,” he said.

The second part of the bond is to add sleeping quarters at Fire Station 53, at 501 Lewis Ave, in Gold Bar.

“We want to be able to staff that station at night in the future, because our call loads are increasing,” Andrews said. “Right now pretty much everything at night comes from the other station.” The third piece of the bond would replace a 1996 fire engine.

Meanwhile, the North County Regional Fire Authority wants to make permanent its current medical services levy, which collects about 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

The levy draws an estimated $935,880 a year. The majority of the district’s calls are for medical emergencies, not fires.

“The EMS levy stabilizes funding for our most widely used service,” Fire Chief John Cermak said.

The proposed levy change will help the district serve a growing community with an aging population, Cermak said. The revenue goes toward medical staffing and equipment, including new, potentially life-saving technologies. Each time they run a six-year levy, it costs up to $22,500 just for the election costs, he said.

“The need and the impact for EMS isn’t going to change,” he said. “We keep seeing increases in call loads on an annual basis. It’s not going away. EMS is not going away.”

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

More in Local News

Marysville firefighters respond to a 12-year-old boy who fell down a well Tuesday May 30, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Photo provided by Marysville Fire District)
Marysville firefighters save boy who fell 20 feet into well

The 12-year-old child held himself up by grabbing on to a plastic pipe while firefighters worked to save him.

Highway 9 is set to be closed in both directions for a week as construction crews build a roundabout at the intersection with Vernon Road. (Washington State Department of Transportation)
Weeklong closure coming to Highway 9 section in Lake Stevens

Travelers should expect delays or find another way from Friday to Thursday between Highway 204 and Lundeen Parkway.

Students arriving off the bus get in line to score some waffles during a free pancake and waffle breakfast at Lowell Elementary School on Friday, May 26, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
800 free pancakes at Everett’s Lowell Elementary feed the masses

The annual breakfast was started to connect the community and the school, as well as to get people to interact.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring speaks at the groundbreaking event for the I-5/SR 529 Interchange project on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
$123M project starting on Highway 529 interchange, I-5 HOV lane

A reader wondered why the highway had a lane closure despite not seeing work done. Crews were waiting on the weather.

Justin Bell was convicted earlier this month of first-degree assault for a December 2017 shooting outside a Value Village in Everett. (Caleb Hutton / Herald file)
Court: Snohomish County jurors’ opaque masks didn’t taint verdict

During the pandemic, Justin Bell, 32, went on trial for a shooting. Bell claims his right to an impartial jury was violated.

Gary Fontes uprights a tree that fell over in front of The Fontes Manor — a miniature handmade bed and breakfast — on Friday, May 12, 2023, at his home near Silver Lake in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett’s mini-Frank Lloyd Wright builds neighborhood of extra tiny homes

A tiny lighthouse, a spooky mansion and more: Gary Fontes’ miniature world of architectural wonders is one-twelfth the size of real life.

Will Steffener
Inslee appoints Steffener as Superior Court judge

Attorney Will Steffener will replace Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Janice Ellis, who is retiring in June.

Kamiak High School is pictured Friday, July 8, 2022, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Kamiak football coach fired amid sexual misconduct investigation

Police believe Julian Willis, 34, sexually abused the student in portable classrooms on Kamiak High School’s campus.

The M/V Puyallup docks at the Edmonds waterfront on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020 in Edmonds. The ferry along with the passenger loading walkway were struck by lightning last week. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tune in for virtual meeting on Edmonds-Kingston ferry

The series of Washington State Ferries meetings are for updates and public comment. A recording is available online.

Most Read