EatonvilleNews

Excerpt from Board Meeting

GRAHAM FIRE & RESCUE
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR BOARD MEETING

March 10, 2008

CALL TO ORDER

Commissioner Skaggs called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Attendance: Present: Commissioner Gerald W. Gustafson, Commissioner Robert E. Skaggs,
Fire Chief Reggie Romines, Deputy Chief Gary Franz, Assistant Chief
Tony Judd, Assistant Chief Ryan Baskett, Public Prevention Education
Officer Merdian-Drake and District Secretary Kathy Hale.

Absent: Commissioner Verne M. Pierson had an excused absence.

New Business:

Chief Romines informed the Board he had had a conversation with Chief Vellias of District No. 15 & No. 17 regarding our position not to continue providing ALS service to the Town of Eatonville.

Chief Romines reminded the Board that in January a letter had been sent to the Town of Eatonville written jointly by himself, Chief Andren of Central Pierce Fire & Rescue and Chief Shelton of Fire District No. 18 putting them on notice that as of April 1, 2008, ALS service would no longer be provided to their citizens by the three districts. Chief Vellias had also sent notice that his districts would not be providing ALS service after April 1st.

Chief Romines stated the Mayor of Eatonville has asked for an extension on the April 1st deadline to give them time to formulate a plan. Chief Romines recommended holding firm to our deadline and relayed that the other districts involved were making the same recommendation to their Boards.

Chief Romines reminded the Board that the Town of Eatonville has been talked to about this problem since 2001 and has chosen to do nothing to formulate a plan or solution. He also stated that he has been receiving telephone calls from our citizens inquiring why Graham Fire & Rescue is "giving away" services to the citizens of Eatonville. Chief Romines stated he is explaining to those inquiring that we are receiving transport fees whenever we respond to the Town of Eatonville and transport the patient to the hospital to cover the majority of our costs.

Commissioner Gustafson voiced he is in full agreement that the April 1 st deadline stays in place. He went on to state that maybe if they had come to us with a plan that was going to take some time to implement an extension would have been considered, but they have had years of notice and chosen to do nothing.

Commissioner Skaggs stated his agreement with Chief Romines' recommendation to hold firm with the April 1 st deadline. He went on to say that helping the Town get on their feet is one thing, but the Town doing nothing for years to solve their emergency service delivery problem can no longer be our problem.

Chief Romines stated he would relay the Board's decision to the Mayor of Eatonville. He also reminded the Board that this deadline does not mean that we will stop responding to the Town of Eatonville if they ask for mutual aid, just that we will no longer be on the run cards for Fire Comm as a first-out ALS unit.


	*"Seek Truth Without Fear"*
	*Excerpt from Board Meeting* GRAHAM FIRE & RESCUE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS REGULAR BOARD MEETING March 10, 2008 CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Skaggs called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Attendance: Present: Commissioner Gerald W. Gustafson, Commissioner Robert E. Skaggs, Fire Chief Reggie Romines, Deputy Chief Gary Franz, Assistant Chief Tony Judd, Assistant Chief Ryan Baskett, Public Prevention Education Officer Merdian-Drake and District Secretary Kathy Hale. Absent: Commissioner Verne M. Pierson had an excused absence. New Business: Chief Romines informed the Board he had had a conversation with Chief Vellias of District No. 15 & No. 17 regarding our position not to continue providing ALS service to the Town of Eatonville. Chief Romines reminded the Board that in January a letter had been sent to the Town of Eatonville written jointly by himself, Chief Andren of Central Pierce Fire & Rescue and Chief Shelton of Fire District No. 18 putting them on notice that as of April 1, 2008, ALS service would no longer be provided to their citizens by the three districts. Chief Vellias had also sent notice that his districts would not be providing ALS service after April 1st. Chief Romines stated the Mayor of Eatonville has asked for an extension on the April 1st deadline to give them time to formulate a plan. Chief Romines recommended holding firm to our deadline and relayed that the other districts involved were making the same recommendation to their Boards. Chief Romines reminded the Board that the Town of Eatonville has been talked to about this problem since 2001 and has chosen to do nothing to formulate a plan or solution. He also stated that he has been receiving telephone calls from our citizens inquiring why Graham Fire & Rescue is "giving away" services to the citizens of Eatonville. Chief Romines stated he is explaining to those inquiring that we are receiving transport fees whenever we respond to the Town of Eatonville and transport the patient to the hospital to cover the majority of our costs. Commissioner Gustafson voiced he is in full agreement that the April 1 st deadline stays in place. He went on to state that maybe if they had come to us with a plan that was going to take some time to implement an extension would have been considered, but they have had years of notice and chosen to do nothing. Commissioner Skaggs stated his agreement with Chief Romines' recommendation to hold firm with the April 1 st deadline. He went on to say that helping the Town get on their feet is one thing, but the Town doing nothing for years to solve their emergency service delivery problem can no longer be our problem. Chief Romines stated he would relay the Board's decision to the Mayor of Eatonville. He also reminded the Board that this deadline does not mean that we will stop responding to the Town of Eatonville if they ask for mutual aid, just that we will no longer be on the run cards for Fire Comm as a first-out ALS unit. Back to Top Back to Front Page





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