As a special service district, Marion County Fire District #1 is governed by an elected Board of Directors who must make policy decisions that ensure the highest level of fire and life safety services provided in the most cost effective manner. “Making the decision to seek a levy in these times was not an easy one for our Board of Directors to make. It is not easy to ask for more money from taxpayers in a good economy, and in this economy it was certainly tougher”, said Chief Henson.  “Passage of this measure will enable us to continue our fire and EMS services without interruption or reduction and we are overwhelmingly grateful for your support” said Board President Randy Franke.

While this levy allows MCFD#1 to maintain current services, both Chief Henson and Board President Franke agree that looking forward to the future of fire/EMS services, collaborative service deployment with neighboring fire agencies may still be the most vital option for long term sustainability.

Questions may be directed to Chief Henson at 503-991-0146…

Entry forms for a chance to ride in the Iris Festival parade can be downloaded below and/or obtained from several area businesses.  All entries must be received by 4:00 pm Wednesday May 16.  Completed entry forms can be taken to Marion County Fire District Station 1 at 300 Cordon Rd NE, or faxed to 503-588-6537.  In addition, entries may be submitted via email to annak@wvfra.com.  All winners will be notified on Thursday, May 17.

Iris Festival Parade Entry Form…

We, like many organizations and individuals in this down economy, are having to tighten our belts, reorganize our operations, and look at all options to operate as efficiently as possible and maintain the current level of services.  We will also continue to re-evaluate what our critical core services are over the next several months.

While we have had differences with our union,  management and union personnel have worked diligently together to come up with creative solutions to make cuts and not impact our core services to the community.  Our union personnel voluntarily developed a proposal that resulted in …

Our current levy of $0.16 per $1,000 expires in June 2012 and we are asking for a continuation of the levy.  We are asking for an additional $0.13 per $1,000, to achieve our goal of continuing to provide the current level of services.  In order to effectively provide fire and emergency medical services to the 50,000 residents in our 80 square mile district, MCFD#1 currently utilizes highly trained career and volunteer personnel to serve our community 24-hours a day based out of 8 fire stations located throughout the fire district.

Management and union personnel have worked diligently to come up with creative solutions to make cuts where we can while not impacting our service to the community. These collective efforts have resulted in voluntary demotions and a reorganization of employees that will save more than $260,000 per year. All employees have also agreed to take a 2.5 percent wage reduction. Two administrative staff have been laid off and two tenured staff took voluntary retirements. The duties of laid off …

Safeguard your home and family by following the safety tips :

Can Firefighters Quickly Find Your Home?

• If your home is set back or not visible from the street, post your address at the beginning of your driveway or road.
• Make sure your street is named or numbered, and a sign is visibly posted at each street intersection.If you need a rural address sign, please call:(503)588-6526.

Can Fire Equipment Safely Access Your Property?

• The road or driveway to your home should be clear of all debris, dense vegetation, and low-hanging branches in order to provide access (and an escape route if needed) for fire equipment.  Minimum clearance is 20 feet wide by 15 feet high
• Turn-out areas are needed if the road or driveway to your home is not large enough for two-way traffic or your home is located at the end of a long driveway or dead-end road.
• The driveway to your home should be designed without sharp curves or steep grades.
• If crossing a bridge is necessary to access your home, it must be able to support 60,000 lbs and posted for fire service personnel.
…

Officials of Marion County Fire District No. 1 announced Friday that they have reached an agreement with its union that includes wage freezes, voluntary demotions and a reorganization of employees that will save more than $260,000 per year.

Two administrative staff have been laid off and two tenured staff, Battalion Chief Kim Batchelor and mechanic Jason Fast, took voluntary retirements.

All employees have agreed to take a 2.5 percent wage reduction, fire district board president Randy Franke said.

In addition, some employees eligible for promotion will take pay freezes while others will take demotions to lower positions. Chief Kevin Henson said new employee classifications had been created as part of the reorganization effort.

In all, three captains have been demoted to lieutenants, 14 firefighter-engineers were demoted to firefighters and a paramedic position was created. The duties of laid off and retired personnel will be redistributed to the remaining force, Franke said.

Franke said the aim of the reorganization was to minimize service reductions to its service area. It serves unincorporated areas of east Salem, the Clear Lake …

(Click here to see editorial as posted on the Keizertimes website)

“Now that the two measures on Tuesday’s special election ballot regarding Keizer Fire’s annexation of Clear Lake have been decisively defeated, it is time to move on.

But, what’s next?

First, all three public bodies involved in this issue need to let it be, mend fences and repair the damage wrought by the campaign.

The city of Keizer needs to repair fences with the Marion County Fire District including its management and fire fighters. Mayor Lore Christopher is on record saying she did not trust the management of Marion County Fire.  We understand her statements were political, she was watching out for her city. Keizer has no bigger cheerleader than its mayor, but to publicly disparage another public body and call into question their validity and credibility does neither her nor the city of Keizer any favors.

In these times where every Oregon governmental jurisdiction is struggling with decreasing revenues and increasing expenses, they all need to work together. We …

We deeply appreciate all the support we received from the Vineyards I Homeowners Association (including a $1,350 contribution), the Vineyards II Homeowners Association, the numerous Keizer citizens who put up lawn signs and wrote letters to the editor, and the many Keizer residents who contributed funds ranging from $20 to $100 for the campaign effort.

While MCFD#1 prevailed in this election, in reality there are no winners. Both Districts are facing tight budgets that will require difficult decisions in the days …

The services provided by Marion County Fire District #1, Station 6, located in the Clear Lake neighborhood, are superior fire protection, education and emergency services.  Further, the Clear Lake neighborhood has the backing of the entire Marion County Fire District #1 force of assets.  It is a ridiculous and uneducated statement for anyone to make a claim that the Clear Lake area of Keizer receives inferior public safety services.

Many months ago the Keizer city council began a process to take land and money away from Marion County Fire District #1.  After several public hearings and overwhelming testimony from Clear Lake residents that NO change should …

Of particular interest, the process that the City of Keizer and Keizer Fire District is using has NEVER been used in Oregon before.  We’re challenging the process through the courts but the judge may not …