Statement For:  
Vote Yes to improve your service level!
The Board of Fire Commissioners of Thurston County Fire District #11, Littlerock has petitioned to merge into Thurston Co. Fire District #9, McLane. The merger will improve service level to the residents of District #11 by providing additional daytime staffing at the headquarters station, making a reliable response to multiple calls possible. The merger is supported by the Career firefighters of the District who often have to work unassisted during the day. Other improvements made possible by the merger are the implementation of an inexpensive ambulance transport service and cost sharing of administrative personnel.

Your fire stations will remain open to
serve you.
Fire stations and apparatus don’t save lives, people do. The merger will put more bodies in your headquarters station during the day and will support the opening of a second manned station in the Maytown area.

Volunteers Protected
The volunteers have and will continue to be the backbone of the Fire District. The merger will only enhance the volunteer program by providing daytime responders to serve you when most volunteers are at work.

Your taxes will decrease.
The merger will result in a tax decrease for District #11 taxpayers. When the Districts combine, the rate will decrease for District #11 taxpayers by an estimated $0.04/$1000.00 of assessed value. The merger will provide you with a more reliable response to your call for help and a more efficient use of your hard-earned dollars. Vote yes.

Voters’ Pamphlet statement prepared by: Davie Foster, Casey Sobol and Roger Stone.

Rebuttal of Statement Against:
Don’t let misinformation guide your decision. The detailed merger resolution plans for equal representation in the larger District. Your voice will be heard! There is no obligation for a ladder truck in the Evergreen Contract. Copies of both documents are available. Volunteers who train daily as part of their college program will increase daytime staffing. Tax limitations force a choice: consolidate operations or reduce services. We chose merger to protect and increase services. Vote yes!

Statement Against:
No Plan for Merged Operations.
A larger district is like larger government, more waste, not less. Especially if there isn’t a written, reviewable plan. Without a plan there is no guarantee of success and, most importantly, no way to back out once the merger is complete. There is not a plan for how to organize, how to predict staff reduction or additions, or how to solve District 9 issues before they become District 11’s.

District 11 would assume all of District 9’s liabilities, including issues related to Evergreen State College, such as the protection services contract and how to solve the requirement for and purchase of an aerial ladder truck.

Does this Proposed Merger Make Sense?
District 9 is only remotely connected to District 11 geographically, and a merger without a written, reviewable plan is not likely to provide the “projected” cost savings. Currently, District 11 Headquarters Station is staffed by two full time career firefighters and a paramedic/firefighter during the day. If the merger is successful, service will only be “enhanced” by students, not by career firefighters.

Merger Reduces your say in your Department.
The merger will reduce your say over your fire department by reducing the effectiveness of your vote, watering down your say about our neighborhood’s specific needs and requirements.

A Larger, poorly organized Fire Department is not in your best interest.
A larger and poorly planned department will require additional staff for coordination and effective leadership. Local neighborhood stations are likely to be closed to support the predicted savings. Current service level will be reduced, not increased. VOTING NO now will allow for better planning in the future.

Voters’ Pamphlet statement prepared by: Tom Fitzgerald, Ken Frasl, Gary Kerker, Tom Culleton, John Ridgway and Mike Ridgway.

Rebuttal of Statement For:
Career firefighters are supported by neighboring fire districts, as well as daytime volunteers. Students will be used to enhance staffing. The merger will not support a second manned station, only a bond issue will! Bond issues that address more than just a Maytown station and will raise taxes. Volunteers have recently demonstrated their dedication to the job, and have never failed you. Vote with us, vote NO.

Explanatory Statement
The Board of Fire Commissioners of Fire Protection District No. 11 has passed a resolution petitioning to merge that fire district into Thurston County Fire Protection District No. 9. Since July 1999, these two fire districts have consolidated their operations and shared the same Fire Chief. During that time, the districts have also trained and drilled together.

The consolidation has been successful and a detailed resolution planning for the orderly merger of the districts has been approved by the Fire Commissioners of both districts. The Board of Fire Commissioners of District No. 9 has accepted the petition to merge. If the merger is approved, District 11 will be dissolved and its assets conveyed to District 9. There will be no reduction in the delivery of services and administration will be centralized. The level of service in District 11 should improve. Both paid staff and volunteer members will continue in their positions. The current six commissioners will initially remain in office, but in accordance with the statute, the number of commissioners will gradually be reduced to three, unless the voters approve a five-member Board at a future election called for that purpose. The Commissioners of both districts support a five-member Board.

Explanatory Statement prepared by: Joseph F. Quinn, Attorney at Law

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