Advanced Life Support Will Be Gone April 1...

      My View
      by Dixie A. Walter
      February 28, 2008

       Is it just me, or are other citizens also confused about the life and death situation in our town? I'm speaking of the eminent loss of Advanced Life Support (ALS) from South Fire District 15 also known as South Pierce County Fire and Rescue.
      When I say eminent that's exactly what I mean. No matter what kind of money the town comes up with  to hire a new fire chief, and another full time person, we won't have ALS.  I have been to the last three meetings about the dire situation our town "leaders" have allowed to develop. And they have allowed this calamity to develop over a period of many years.
      Why? I have no idea. For the past two years Councilmember Rich Adams has strongly, and continously, advocated for the fire department and emergency medical services (EMS) to no avail. It's as if those services were the Cinderella of our town. Or as someone said recently at a meeting about the safety issues, the fire department is like the unwanted step-child. The 2008 budget was slashed by over $25,000 from last year.
       Mayor Tom Smallwood refuses to cut any staff and a huge amount of tax money is going toward wages. At least six new positions have been created in the past few years. I hate the idea of cutting staff also. But I think ways could be found to do this as painlessly as possible for employees and the town. One option would be to allow a person, or persons, who would be laid off time to find another job so they wouldn't be financially strapped.
       However, the only way this administration can find to fund fire and safety is to raise the lid on our levy in order to hire a permanent fire chief and paid fire fighter. Neither of these hires would be certified in advanced life support (ALS) as they mayor reports that the price for ALS person is too high.

Do we Need Paramedics or a Fire Chief?

       During a phone interview with Bob Vellias, chief of Fire District 15 I learned that hiring an ALS person would cost about 10 percent more than a person with basic life support (BLS). The chief did point out that it would cost extra for the ALS equipment, etc. But, does it make sense not to hire paramedics? Perhaps a couple of paramedics and not a fire chief would be the best solution.
       After the last safety committee meeting we were led to understand that Mayor Smallwood would meet with Chief Vellias to negotiate the proposed contract with District 15. There was no negotiation. Smallwood explained  the town would hire two more people and that would provide help to District 15.
       District 15 will stop ALS service to Eatonville April 1. Hiring a fire chief and fire fighter in town will not bring it back. Rather, the town will be on what I would call a probationary period.
       Mayor Smallwood pushed for the February 29 meeting because he wants the fire/safety committee to advise him to ask the town council for permission so he can hire a full time chief and fire fighter. During the council meeting Monday, February 25 Smallwood was in such a hurry to get this permission from the council he said he would hire a chief the "next day." The next council meeting is March 10, so the mayor wants to hire a chief March 11. Evidently he has someone in mind.
       Smallwood also said a fire chief would be required to live within ten minutes of Eatonville. Councilmember Jim Valentine stated the town should have residency requirements and the person should live in town. Councilmember Adams said he didn't remember that a new chief could live outside of town with a response time of 10 minutes. But Smallwood said that was the way he remembered the subject of residency. So that issue is murky for the time being.

Rushing the Levy Lid Lift...

        He also wants to rush the levy lid lift to get it on the ballot for the next available election date. The levy would need a 60 percent majority and money wouldn't be available until spring 2009 according to Jack Chappell a member of the fire/safety committee. And, as Chappell pointed out during the council meeting, there is no guarantee the levy will pass. The levy will cost $1.50 per thousand of assessed property value, unless it changes down the road. Chief Vellias explained that District 15 has a "membership plan" which is part of their levy. With this plan those people needing to be transported to medical facilities don't pay if they are uninsured. The district absorbs the costs.
       I think it will pass because townspeople are frightened, as well they should be. Voting for the lid to be lifted on the levy will undoubtedly be done out of desperation. Desperation that shouldn't have been allowed by town leaders. They had plenty of time to negotiate the proposed contract which is dated November 15, 2007.
      There is also a school replacement levy March 11, garbage rates have gone up, water/sewer rates are going up at some point soon and sales tax is mentioned often by the mayor.
      Within the town limits there are 202 school employees with 1,425 students, some with health issues. We also have a large elderly population and many of them also have health issues. How will we protect them with no advanced life support for perhaps months? Chief Vellias said 80 percent of fire department calls are for medical reasons, not fires.
 

Even With a New Chief We Won't Have ALS Service From District 15... 

       This terrible situation should never have been allowed to happen. The weak leadership in our community has put everyone at risk in a life or death situation. Many people who talked to me about this true crisis have said the mayor wants what the mayor wants and what he wants is a full-time fire chief even if lives are in danger. These folks believe the mayor allowed this calamity to develop so citizens would be frightened enough to give him the fire chief he wants. I don't know if this is true or not, but it is the perception of many. Councilmember Adams has stated, on the record a number of times, the town was setting up the fire department for failure. In October 2007 the process of hiring a chief was done but there was no money to hire one.
        The mayor was supposed to give the council a report during the last meeting regarding how he proposed to fund these new positions. This he did not do although questioned about it by council members and citizens.
        Now, with people very alarmed about losing advanced life support, the mayor will likely get his chief. But his "solution" still does not provide advanced life support to the citizens he has sworn to protect. He has waited until the eleventh hour to act on this situation, yet as of April 1 our town will still be without the emergency service we have depended on for years. 

Mayor's Report of February 20...

Fire Notes

We Meet with the Public Safety Committee on the Feb 20, 2008.

We came to the conclusion that we need to bring to council a request for a levy lid lift.

The lift would be exclusive for fire and set into an enterprise fund solely for fire and EMS.

The recommendation would be to hire a full time Fire Chief, one Firefighter, and keep Sheila in her present position. (Publisher's Note: The mayor is referring to Sheila Wick Dudley - Fire Secretary/Assistant Fire Chief)

They would work mainly the week day shifts.

They would cover BLS and Fire for Eatonville and the surrounding area.

We would do all BLS transport from Eatonville.

The Cost of a Chief would be $ 71,000 including benefits. The Firefighter would be $62,000 after 6 month probation

A levy lid lift would be for $1.50 a thousand of home value. This is equal to the surrounding area. The deadline for the August 19, 2008 election is May 27, 2008.

I talked with AMR and they said that it was not economical to have a vehicle any closer than Puyallup. They did state that they would respond any time a rig was available.
 

I Meet with Chief Vellias and Board Chairman John Christian on Friday.

The wanted to make it clear that they did not intend that we would close our fire station. But we would need to man the station for Fire Support.

They stated that they would only consider ALS support if we make a strong and quick effort to step up our level of EMS support. It was not a threat but they need to see a change where they can cover their taxpayers at the level that is required. Basically they cannot compromise service to their customers to cover Eatonville.

I did receive a letter stating that the offer was valid through Feb.29. He said that he would extend this until March 31, 2008.

We need to work toward a consolidated services where we the best available response comes from mutual agreed upon plan.

I would like permission to hire a Fire Chief depending on the recommendation of the public safety committee. I would like to make the offer before the next council meeting so we have action in process.

Letter from District 15...

South Pierce Fire and Rescue District 15
5403 340th Street East
Eatonville, Washington 98328
Phone: (253) 847-4333

February 19, 2008

Mayor Tom Smallwood
101 Center Street West
Eatonville, WA 98328

Re: Contract for Services

Dear Mayor Smallwood,

The Board of Fire Commissioners for South Pierce Fire and Rescue District 15 has approved to extend the contract for services offer until Friday, February 29, 2008. At that time, if District 15 has not received a response from the Town of Eatonville, the offer will be withdrawn. If the Town of Eatonville wishes to discuss this decision further, please contact me at (253) 847-4333.

Sincerely,

Fire Chief Bob Vellias
South Pierce Fire and Rescue District 15