By Ann McCreary
With two years left in a five-year fire protection contract with Okanogan County Fire District 6, Twisp town officials want to meet with the district to begin discussing a future contract and potential costs.
In a letter to be sent to the fire district, Mayor Soo Ing-Moody suggested beginning “a conversation to prepare for the next steps upon the expiration of our contract.”
The letter, approved by the Town Council last week, was prompted by concerns expressed earlier this month by some council members who worry that the town may be asked to pay the district significantly more for fire protection after the current contract expires in 2017.
Some council members said they worry that the fire district’s plans to spend about $2.4 million on a new fire station in Winthrop might result in a more expensive fire protection contract for Twisp.
“I’m concerned that if the [fire] district moves ahead with plans on the fire hall, in two years we’ll be looking at a substantial increase for the Town of Twisp,” council member Bob Lloyd said at the council’s meeting on March 10.
“I think it would be beneficial for us to go on record stating our concern about them coming after us in two years to double our rate,” Lloyd said.
The town is in the third year of a five-year contract with Fire District 6. The contract began in 2013, after the town eliminated its municipal fire department, primarily due to problems retaining enough volunteer firefighters.
The contract began with an annual cost of $35,000, with increases each year. This year the town will pay $44,000 and in 2017 the contract amount will be $48,620.
The town and the district went through more than three months of contentious negotiations before agreeing to the contract at the end of 2012, with much of the disagreement focused on the cost of the contract.
Being proactive
Twisp officials said they wanted to begin negotiations well in advance of the contract expiration. “Knowing how long it took last time — it was arduous,” said council member John Fleming.
Aaron Studen, the council’s newest member, said he wanted the town to “be proactive” in considering its options if the fire district suggests a significant increase in contract costs.
“If they are going ahead with plans and saying we’re going to double your rates in two years, what are we going to do about it? We can’t change their plans, but we can change our plans,” Studen said during the council’s March 10 meeting.
Dwight Filer, who also joined the council after the current contract was negotiated, said he felt some of the criticisms leveled at the fire district in connection with its plans to build a new fire station “are really off base … the fire district is taking way more heat than they deserve,” he said.
“They’ve made some missteps. But they are very professional [firefighters]. We rely on these guys,” Filer said.
The letter from the mayor to the district states “we would like to ensure that the Town remains financially able to continue the mutually beneficial relationship, without any unprecedented future hardship.”
Under the current firefighting contract the town benefits by “knowing our citizens are protected from fire. District 6 benefits from the complimentary use of the fire station, fire engine, equipment, gear, water supply, and water and sewer paid by the town, in addition to the amount paid for the service,” according to the letter.
The Twisp fire station building on Second Avenue and some fire vehicles and equipment are still owned by the Town of Twisp, but are used at no charge by Fire District 6 as part of the contract.
“In the best interest for our community we look forward to the opportunity to reach a sustainable solution for future fire protection services,” the letter said.
The council appointed Studen and Filer to represent the town in the next fire protection contract negotiations.
