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Elaine McMillion - U92 News
Morgantown city council’s adjustment in the city’s financial plan, to increase fire service fees, forces residents to hand over a little more pocket change.
“This is something that has needed to be done for a long time,” said Ron Bane, First Ward city councilman.
According to Morgantown Fire Chief, Dave Fetty, the council approved an 8 percent increase for city fire fees. Once the exact cost is calculated by developers, the fee will be increased in two phases to cover the costs; once in January 2007 and a second time in July.
The fee increases are based on square footage of each house but amount to approximately .75 cents per month for most households; with a second estimated 8 percent increase, raising the fees to $1.33 a month. Bane and Fetty both believe the fees are very modest.
“You put more money than that in a pop machine in a day,” said Fetty.
The fees have not been raised since 1992 and will go towards the purchase of an aerial fire truck, relocation and construction of the 57-year-old North Street fire station and eventually the hiring of at least four more firefighters. Fetty says the old and inadequate station, located in Wiles Hills, has become geographically misplaced due to expanding northern city boundaries.
“We are expecting a 75 to 100 year commitment with this new and improved station,” Fetty said.
According to Dan Boroff, city manager, the changes are anticipated to cost two million dollars; but had potential of being greater. The future site, two-thirds of an acre piece of property behind the public health department on the Evansdale campus, was donated by West Virginia University and the Monongalia County Commission.
The contribution significantly reduced the price of the project and is allowing developers to put the money saved, towards making an unconventional station.
“We are looking into using energy saving appliances and solar panels,” said Boroff. “We want the station to be unique and environment friendly to serve the community.”
The community of Morgantown has been very supportive with the fee increase. Fetty and Bane have both received numerous encouraging phone calls and letters.
“The people of Morgantown can’t wait to see it,” said Fetty.
Due to the structural and population growth the city has experienced, Fetty is now challenging the council to change the plan to supply more than four firemen. He says the average person doesn’t recognize how much the department does.
“The name fire department is misleading, we do a lot to keep Morgantown safe,” said Fetty.
In 1967 the city had 44 firefighters for a 12,000 student body population. Now 39 years later and 16,000 more students, the city has 47 firemen in their forces.
Bane is aware of the numerous duties of the fire department but says plans need to be executed incrementally to make certain the city budget can cover the costs.
“He’ll get his firefighters, but he will get them down the road,” said Bane. “We’re not doing it all right now.”
He says the council has taxed the city a lot in the last couple years and personally feels the effects.
“If you know me well enough, I don’t like to spend other people’s money,” said Bane. “Tax and fee increases hit me in the pocket as well as the rest of my community.”
Bane wants to achieve the central objective of providing an efficient fire station and transferring current fire fighters to it, before spending any more of the community’s money.
“This is a community partnership,” said Bane. “We need cooperation to make it happen.”
Fetty is glad to see a positive population response to the fee increase as well as his attempts to amplify public safety by providing more men in his forces.
“Morgantown Fire Department is the best in the state,” said Fetty. “The people know it and want to support our growth.”
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