Catoosa budget passes with fire department cuts
By Randall Franks
Tuesday August 21, 2007 8:29:06pm


Commissioners approved the 2007-08 budget Tuesday evening, which included major cuts to two local fire departments.

Despite pleas by Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Judd Burkhart, Fire Chief Bruce Ballew and Robbie Tester, vice chairman of the Post Volunteer Fire Department, to return funding to both Fort Oglethorpe and the Post volunteers, commissioners moved forward with the budget without that change.

“We don’t feel it’s appropriate to do business that way,” Tester told commissioners.

He said the Post can’t even meet its obligations with the proposed $100,000 budget.

Commissioner Ken Marks with the support of Commissioner Jim Emberson, attempted to amend the budget by adding funds back to Post Volunteer but the amendment failed without enough support.

Chairman Bill Clark said that the changes in budget should wait until the Catoosa Fire Resource Committee makes its recommendations to the board.

“Three beats two,” Marks said following the meeting.

But in one case that brought a bit of a chuckle from Chairman Clark, four beat one, when all but he supported an amendment to increase the Colonnade budget from $58,164 to $75,000 over the next two years.

“I am disappointed by the addition to the Colonnade budget,” he said following the meeting. “It is a good budget overall.”

According to Carl Henson, Catoosa County chief financial officer, the additional money for the Colonnade will be moved from the budget’s contingency fund.

Shirley Smith, chair of the Catoosa County Foundation for the Performing Arts Board of Governors, which operates the Colonnade, said she is very appreciative for the additional funding.

“We appreciate the trust and support they have in us,” she said. “This will help us stay on line.”

No other changes were made in the budget, although Emberson did try to get $20,000 towards tourism funding provided to the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce and Marks attempted to get $20,000 in additional monies to provide enough funds for volunteer firefighters in the west side of the county with a $1,000 bonus. Neither passed.

Commissioners approved the county millage rate of 5.124, which includes a .414 mill rollback, or a reduction in ad valorem tax proceeds of $647,830. Commissioners also approved the millage rate approved by the Catoosa County Board of Education of 16.828 for a total millage rate of 22.206, which includes .250 for the state of Georgia.

A mill represents $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

In other business Tuesday, Aug. 21 at the Governmental Building the Catoosa County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to:

* Appoint Catoosa County Magistrate Judge Mike Helton as interim Catoosa county manager to replace retiring County Manager Ron Brown. Clark said the county will soon begin advertising process for county manager.

* Deny a request by Jerry Eades for 12 acres on Boynton Drive at Boynton Terrace from residential, R-1, to R-A, residential-agriculture, with a variance to raise goats.

* Approve a request by Best Land Investment LLC for property off Empire Road from C-1, commercial, to C-R, commercial residential, to build 50-60 townhouse or apartment units.

* Approve a correction to the speed limit and road radar list for submission to state.

* Approve paving of four substandard roads — Helen Drive, Gibson Drive, Misty Lane and Ryan Lane — for $69,113.






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catvoter
Comments: 100
Joined: 08/10/2007
02/21/2008 01:01:12 PM
I don't think Marlin Thompson denies being involved in writing the job description. It came out in the fire meetings and on the Judy O'Neal show.

You misunderstood my next to last paragraph about those people currently a Class 3 that live in the County. My understanding is that if FO/Post combined with the County in a consolidated fire department, then all the people that are now Class 3 will stay Class 3. The ONLY way county residents would be changed from a Class 3 to a Class 5 is IF FO/Post do not join the County.

Where did your number of 8000 to 10000 homes being in the Class 3 come from? It may be right but where did the number come from? Everybody now serviced by the FO/Post is not a Class 3 are they?

This does affect the station that services me.

The ISO rating IS affected by the station manning that is the first responder if I understood Ballew and Gass correctly. No matter what side of the County we are on the ISO is very dependent on a home being within 1,000 ft. of a hydrant and 5 miles of a manned station. Many other things also are a factor like hydrant flow rates, etc.

It doesn't work to make this a west side versus east side issue. Anyone not in the FO city limits is dependent on the word of Chief Gass since the County is commited to this new plan.
 
lee2854
Comments: 19
Joined: 09/07/2007
02/21/2008 08:28:21 AM
First of all Mr. Thompson said he did not do that and I tend to believe him over any politician. Maybe you shouldn’t accuse people of things just because of what you hear. No Post does not sound like they are in the loop b/c if they were they would probably of had an advantage instead of losing funding.

If you lived in that service area and you had the 3 then you WOULD NOT more than likely be pushing for a department with higher insurance premiums. Unless you like to throw away your money…that’s your prerogative. I wish I could be in the City BUT Guess what that doesn’t matter if those 2 station close b/c the City’s ISO rating is based on having the equipment and manpower for the entire department not just what’s at that particular station.

I am serviced by FO/Post and I still want to be because I know that I WILL NOT get as quality of service and if you are already service by Catoosa County Fire what do you care anyway…you are already paying higher insurance premiums than if you were in the West side of the county so maybe you are just jealous.

Also that fact that Chief Gass saying that it will stay the same has nothing to do with anything he has no control over the west side of the county….and his department can still service the area until everything is in place b/c they still have county funds providing all of their services…duh!

Also on the number of residents U.S. Census Bureau had a 2006 est. population by census tract and by those tracts FO/Post services nearly half the population of the entire county! Sounds like a lot with only 3 stations…..

So I suggest you stay in your own side of the county’s business and don’t act like you know how this will affect the citizens on the west side…..
 
catvoter
Comments: 100
Joined: 08/10/2007
02/20/2008 07:58:26 PM
I understood the County to say that when they gave 120 day notice to end the yearly contract in May, that the County would continue to pay for the services month to month until all the new County facilities and manpower were in place. Seems like Chief Gass said the current programs stay like they are until the new County fire stations are manned.

Other than 1 or 2 trucks that FO purchased direct, didn't the County buy ALL the trucks and equipment currently used by FO/Post? Ballew said that also.

The County said they had been paying FO $175,000 per year and the Post about $220,000 every year, plus buying the trucks, etc. This money again was clearly paid by the County for services by FO/Post for fire fighting at County locations. The money should never have been used to supplement budgets for fire sevices inside the city limits.

In the future, FO/Post shouldn't have to leave the city limits (except for mutual aid) and they don't need to spend the $400,000. Isn't that some of the funds the County will use to pay for manpower at the new stations? Doesn't the County try to put 3 full time firemen at the stations during the day and then try to schedule the volunteers during the night hours? $400,000 will more than cover the manpower and the SPLOST money is already there for the station houses and trucks. As the County grows so will the tax revenue and SPLOST money.

I think Commissioner Hill said the County has not asked for any of the trucks and equipment back that the County bought for FO/Post with past SPLOST money. I'm not sure what the Post will do with all that equipment once the stations at Old Mill and Mack Smith are closed. Maybe FO is going to try to get better than a Class 3.

Are you sure there are 8000-10000 homes in the Class 3 area? Who documents that number? The estimated census for 2006 for FO CITY was 9,400 people and 3,183 housing units within the city limits. The entire County had almost 26,000 housing units. (Google: Catoosa County GA population)

About two weeks ago when that house burned off Cloud Springs, Chief Gass said the truck from the County Highway 41 station got there first. I think the County is trying hard to make a good Countywide department.

Unclear are the details of the backroom "negotiations". Why did Marlin Thompson write the job description for the New County Chief when Ron Brown advertised the position? It seems the Post was in the loop early, then didn't like how it was coming out with Chief Gass probably getting to sit at a high spot, and conversations went downhill.

If there are 65,000 total Catoosa County residents to be served by fire protection, and FO wants to go their own way with their 9,400 residents (14% of the County and FO wants to negotiate like they were in the majority!!!!) they may do better by themselves also. Commissioner Hill and Chief Gass said they wanted the whole County to improve from the current Class 5 that most of the County has now.

If I lived in an area that FO/Post services with Class 3 now, I would be pushing the FO City Council and FO City Manager to join the County in a County Consolidated Fire Department. If FO has something better to propose they better do it fast. The County has already made their decisions based on FO not being interested in a combined unit.

lee2854 Maybe you could get annexed into FO city limits?
 
lee2854
Comments: 19
Joined: 09/07/2007
02/20/2008 12:00:58 PM
How could there not be a problem…the county seems to be saying Post didn’t agree and Post didn’t communicate, but I really BELIEVE Mr. Thompson’s comment on the last article on Catoosa News saying they have been given anything in writing. How do you agree to something without it being in writing???

Also if they CANCELED a contract wouldn’t they need a plan in place to EXTEND the contract if their trucks and stations weren’t in place? I would think so.

YES I DO LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY! What don’t you get about FOFR servicing some unincorporated county areas which means those properties get the ISO CLASS 3…I have a 3 now and would immediately go to a 5 and my insurance would increase as would the other 8000-10000 homes that FOFR services….what’s so hard to understand about that.

ISO from what I have read is based on many aspects not just trucks and manpower. Other than that I want to know how they are going to pay for those people? If they cannot appropriate 30 firefighters to cover more than 3 stations than why would I think they can operate efficiently. I feel safer now than I will after May…

Also why would you use FO/Post for Mutual Aid when their stations are closer to the property initially? Hello!
 
catvoter
Comments: 100
Joined: 08/10/2007
02/20/2008 11:38:29 AM
From what I saw on the Judy O'Neal show last night there really is no problem with this.

It would not seem possible that with the addition of nine new firetrucks and more than 15 new full time firemen that the ISO rating should change downward. It may get better.

Commissioner Hill said the month to month payment to FO/Post should continue until the new County stations are manned. Therefore no one will be without the same service, or better service in the future.

The County offered the same plan to the Post that the County Volunteers get. Commissioner Hill said the County would pay for all fuel, maintenance, and costs for the Post; just like they do with the County Volunteers.

Commissioner Hill said that all the money given to FO or the Post in the past was clearly for fire services those two organizations did for residents OUTSIDE of the City limits. The County funds were never for any subsidy of FO residents. Now Hill said the County will be serviceing those County residents in the future and FO/Post services to County residents will be for mutual aid only. No one is subsidized for mutual aid.

It would seem that in the future the FO residents may get a better rating than the current Class 3 since the FO/Post manpower and equipment will be for FO residents only.

lee2854. If you live outside of the FO city limits are you sure your insurance company already didn't use a Class 5 rate for you? If so your rates shouldn't change. Aren't the ISO ratings are done by areas, not individual homeowners?

This whole thing seems to be a better deal for everybody and is a good plan for County growth.
 
lee2854
Comments: 19
Joined: 09/07/2007
02/20/2008 09:19:04 AM
In this article they expected Post to continue serving the unincorporated areas with only $100,000 and the vice chairman said it cannot be done. Now they have completely terminated funding (which will go into place May) and they still said “WELL POST CAN STILL VOLUNTEER”

Let me ask….HOW!? Can you expect a fire truck to run with no fuel, maintenance, electricity for the station, water, etc?

Also they said that they are going to build a station in Lakeview to cover this part of the county. WHY?!?

There is a station on Mack Smith Road and it provides adequate coverage to this area. Why would you build ANOTHER fire station directly down the road? Just because the Mack Smith station is too small? I don’t think so it’s because they do not want Post’s or the City of FO’s help they want it all to themselves.

My personal homeowner’s insurance is going to increase nearly $100! Also that ISO rating is a judge of the quality of service apparently a 5 is worse than a 3 so the quality is worse. Why would I want a lower quality service and higher insurance premiums? I guess since the supposed fire study said that this is the best option the commissioners ran with that and are going that route in ALL THE WRONG WAYS!

Citizens that are served by Fort Oglethorpe Fire Department that are in Lakeview, Duncan Park, Boynton, Westside, and Fort Oglethorpe. Listen up this is going to increase your insurance! And just because they say that there will be fire protection from their county stations doesn’t mean that station will be close or have full-time firefighters. There are ONLY full-time firefighters in Graysville, Ringgold, and Three Notch Rd right now if you live in Woodstation, Keith, or Bandy Rd area then you don’t even have full-time firefighters. Seems like if they have 30 of them they could work something out to cover their East side currently, if they don’t have enough to cover those station right now how are they going to have enough to cover Lakeview??


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