Regarding the two bond proposals for the Oxford Fire Department, we advise residents to vote NO.
Nothing personal against our firefighters and chief, but we feel these two can wait a little while longer.
The first bond proposal is for $595,000 to build a 4,000-square-foot addition to Station #1 (at N. Washingston and Church streets).
The addition would provide living quarters (i.e. bunkroom and kitchen) for the firefighters so the station could be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Fire Chief Jack LeRoy said this addition would be necessary if the ALS millage passes because Station #1 would be staffed 24-7. Two firefighters/paramedics would be on-duty at the station weekdays from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. and on weekends.
We believe some space could be found within the existing square-footage of Station #1 to accommodate a couple of beds for the overnight stays of two personnel.
If the need to have more than two personnel stay overnight on duty ever becomes necessary, we can examine building permanent living quarters at that time.
But for right now, constructing an extra 4,000-square-feet is not necessary for two people.
As for the $375,000 bond to finance the purchase of a new fire pumper to replace one that’s nearing the 20-year retirement age (in 2007), we feel that as well could wait a while longer and residents should vote NO.
We’re confident some measures could be taken to squeeze a little extra life out of one old truck.
The bottom-line is there are just too many tax requests for the fire department on this one ballot.
In making our decisions, we sifted through them to separate the vital from the secondary and determine what’s needed immediately versus what can wait.
In our determination, these two bonds can wait and residents are advised to vote NO on both. ? CJC