City council endorses fire bond

By Christine Callan

City council officially endorsed the bond levy which would fund a new fire station for Blaine.

In July, council passed an ordinance setting September 18 as the date for Blaine voters to go to the polls on the fire station bond issue. Citizens were given the chance to discuss the pros and cons of the proposed levy before council took an official position at their August 13 meeting.

After the city of Blaine contracted with fire district no. 13 for fire services in 1999, the city hall station was determined unsafe in that it was not earthquake-proof and can no longer be used to hold emergency equipment, said Todd Berge, chairman of the citizen committee promoting the fire station and 18 year member of the Blaine Fire Department.

“Currently, the city has a rented warehouse on Yew Avenue to house the city fire station. This location creates traffic problems in crossing the truck route and has inadequate living quarters for the volunteer firefighters,” Berge said.

“I urge you to adopt this resolution,” Ann Walter of Stafholt Good Samaritan Center pleaded. “These folks truly need a place to do their job from.”

If the bond passes, the new $1.6 million station would be located in southeast Blaine and fire district 13 would purchase the land for the station. The levy would cost Blaine citizens’ $0.28 per $1,000 of assessed property value, the same cost as the Blaine citizen’s now pay for the community center bond. In 2002, that bond is paid off and the fire bond would replace it in 2003 extending for 20 years.

Berge announced the formation of a committee to design the new station and said anyone interested should contact fire district 13. There will be an open house at the current location, 1100 Yew Avenue, August 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. complete with hot dogs and pop. Firefighters will be available for questions and pamphlets...

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