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Douglas County residents urge fire district formation
By Jack Carrerow, Reedsport Staff Writer
Thursday, May 29, 2008 | No comments posted.
REEDSPORT— A group of Reedsport residents are hoping to get a proposal before voters in November to form a Lower Umpqua Rural Fire District.
The group has gathered the required 100 signatures and is proposing a property tax initiative of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value to finance the district.
That idea is another step closer to becoming a reality. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners has given its approval of the project.
It’s been a two-and-a-half-year effort of Leo Naapi, Barbara Mills, Harold Hinshaw, Bob Jones, Elsie Ansama and Timothy Singlar.
“It was always a matter of timing,” local resident and group member Ike Launstein said. “We had to make sure we were ready to proceed in time to get it placed on the ballot and the timing finally worked out.”
The district boundaries would encompass an area east of the Reedsport in the Mill Creek, Schofield Drive and Dean Creek areas along state Highway 38, Launstein said. Douglas County has indicated there are 189 registered voters living within those boundaries.
The plan, Launstein said, is to construct two fire substations in the proposed district, one on Schofield Drive and another on state Highway 38 at Dean Creek.
“While we obviously don’t have any equipment, our plan is to equip each station with vehicles that are small enough to get up some of the narrower driveways,” Launstein said. “We’ll also contract with Reedsport to get the proper training and administrative help.”
The new district would be staffed by an all-volunteer force.
“There are some residents in the area who feel there’s no need for fire protection in that area, but last winter, there was a house that burned to the ground,” Launstein said.
“It’s definitely needed. We’re too far out to expect a quick response and if we get this on the ballot and passed and those of us who live out in that area will sleep a lot better at night.”
County Planning Department director Keith Cubic noted that a small portion of the district also was proposed to be included in the Lakeside Fire District. But Coos County opposed it, he said.
Supporters are scheduled to meet again with the county commission on June 18.
The group has gathered the required 100 signatures and is proposing a property tax initiative of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value to finance the district.
That idea is another step closer to becoming a reality. The Douglas County Board of Commissioners has given its approval of the project.
It’s been a two-and-a-half-year effort of Leo Naapi, Barbara Mills, Harold Hinshaw, Bob Jones, Elsie Ansama and Timothy Singlar.
“It was always a matter of timing,” local resident and group member Ike Launstein said. “We had to make sure we were ready to proceed in time to get it placed on the ballot and the timing finally worked out.”
The district boundaries would encompass an area east of the Reedsport in the Mill Creek, Schofield Drive and Dean Creek areas along state Highway 38, Launstein said. Douglas County has indicated there are 189 registered voters living within those boundaries.
The plan, Launstein said, is to construct two fire substations in the proposed district, one on Schofield Drive and another on state Highway 38 at Dean Creek.
“While we obviously don’t have any equipment, our plan is to equip each station with vehicles that are small enough to get up some of the narrower driveways,” Launstein said. “We’ll also contract with Reedsport to get the proper training and administrative help.”
The new district would be staffed by an all-volunteer force.
“There are some residents in the area who feel there’s no need for fire protection in that area, but last winter, there was a house that burned to the ground,” Launstein said.
“It’s definitely needed. We’re too far out to expect a quick response and if we get this on the ballot and passed and those of us who live out in that area will sleep a lot better at night.”
County Planning Department director Keith Cubic noted that a small portion of the district also was proposed to be included in the Lakeside Fire District. But Coos County opposed it, he said.
Supporters are scheduled to meet again with the county commission on June 18.
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