Fire Department Tax

From Central Fire Department
    Corey Martin is a firefighter with the Central Fire Department and unlike most firefighters in the United States, Martin works a 24 hour shift by himself. 
    When Martin is dispatched to a call, his closest help is at least 5 to 7 minutes away, and that help has to come from another Central fire station.  If the next closest Central station is on another response at the time Martin receives a call, Martin and the citizens needing assistance have to wait even longer for sufficient firefighters to arrive.  This is unsafe for Firefighter Martin and the citizens he has sworn to serve.
    The Central Fire Department currently has two stations that are staffed by one firefighter each 24 hour shift.  In 2013, these two stations responded to 703 emergency calls.  Responding a second Central station to assist a single staffed station creates huge voids in coverage and is inefficient.
    The Central Fire Department has placed a 4.25 tax millage on the December 6, 2014 ballot.  Passage of this millage will enable the fire department to hire additional firefighters.  Central Fire Chief Bill Porche points out national standards indicate there should be 4 firefighters assigned to each fire engine.  Passage of this millage will staff all five Central fire engines with two firefighters.  Passage of this millage is vital for the safety of Central citizens and Central firefighters, Chief Porche added.