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Bennett Fire asks to remain Watkins provider
STEVEN VETTER
Staff Writer - Watkins residents might have to decide who provides emergency fire and medical services in the future.
During an Oct. 3 work/study session, Watkins trustees were told by Bennett Fire & Rescue officials that the department wishes to remain the town’s primary emergency services provider and that future plans include having at least three stations that could serve the community.
That presentation was in response to a previous discussion between town officials and another area emergency services provider.
In mid-August, Sable-Altura Fire & Rescue asked town officials to consider changing primary emergency service providers and that they have an approved $6 million bond that included $2 million being set aside for a new station in downtown Watkins.
According to Earl Cumley, Bennett Fire Chief, his department currently has four stations, two of which can directly service the Watkins planning area. In the future, Bennett plans to expand to seven stations, including having three or four that can provide service to Watkins.
“In addition to our two stations currently in Bennett, our station on [Highway] 36 east of Watkins, and the volunteer station at Quincy and County Road 129, we are looking to add stations at 88th Avenue and Highway 79 [north of Bennett], at Sky Ranch in Watkins (I-70 and Airpark Road), and we have been asked to build one at Front Range Airport,” Cumley said. “With that expansion, Watkins would have the services of at least three stations, with the possibility that the airport facility would also provide support.”
Cumley and Brad Hill, attorney for the department, indicated that an increase of the current 6.257 mill levy for the Bennett Fire Protection District isn’t expected in the near future because new stations are funded through a capital expansion fund which gets its money from fees paid by developments coming into the district.
Currently, residents in the 325-square-mile Bennett Fire Protection District — spanning 130th Avenue to the north, Arapahoe County Road 50 to the south, Monaghan Road to the west and the Lady Bird Hill area to the east — pay approximately $42 per $100,000 of assessed property value.
“Operational expenses are paid from the tax base derived from the mill levy,” Hill said. “A significant increase in those expenses may result in a bump in the mill levy, but that would be down the road.”
Cumley and Branden Baalman, district paramedic and firefighter, said that two career staff are now in place during the day at the Watkins station and that a shift program has been implemented to staff the station during the night with volunteer personnel.
“It’s been since the beginning of September that we have done this,” Cumley said. “Residents can be assured we have the staff and equipment available to meet their [emergency] demands.”
Bennett Fire has water availability from the town of Bennett, Antelope Hills, Front Range Airport and Prairie View and also has a 32,000-gallon cistern deeded over from Watkins Farms.
Baalman added that response times from the Watkins station average around 8 minutes.
This figure was disputed by Watkins Trustee Rick Grimm.
“I haven’t seen it, and haven’t heard that from any resident that I’ve talked to about this issue,” Grimm said.
In response, Cumley reiterated that the staffing of the Watkins station just started at the beginning of September and that previously volunteers had to get to the station prior to responding to an emergency or that emergency services came from Bennett.
“We really want to be your primary emergency services provider and making all efforts possible to give the town the staff, facilities and equipment needed to provide the best service possible,” Cumley said.
Grimm also said he is concerned with an ongoing rift between the Bennett and Sable-Altura districts and that more cooperation is needed between the two.
“I’m very concerned about the lack of cooperation between you (Bennett) and Sable-Altura because it’s the people you’re supposed to help in emergencies that are hurt by this,” Grimm said.
Grimm specifically cited instances that Sable-Altura was closer to emergencies but were not contacted by Bennett and vice versa. “It’s extremely concerning to me and should be to residents of this town.”
Cumley said he understands the concern and said that he has tried to contact Sable-Altura, but that those efforts haven’t been reciprocated.
Sable-Altura Chief Mark Campagnola, in attendance, said he has tried to contact Bennett and that the door has always been open at the station at Foxridge Farms and that Cumley hasn’t taken the opportunity.
Officials from both fire departments have accused the other of asking for assistance from stations or departments further away, thus sacrificing the health and safety of those in need of their services.
Cumley and Campagnola agreed to meet at Sable-Altura’s station at Foxridge Farms Oct. 5, but results of that meeting weren’t available at press time.
Watkins Mayor John Schmidt indicated that a change of the town’s emergency service provider would require a vote by the town’s residents, pending an affirmative vote of the town’s incorporation Nov. 7.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an on-line publication of
The I-70 Scout
STEVEN VETTER
Staff Writer - Watkins residents might have to decide who provides emergency fire and medical services in the future.
During an Oct. 3 work/study session, Watkins trustees were told by Bennett Fire & Rescue officials that the department wishes to remain the town’s primary emergency services provider and that future plans include having at least three stations that could serve the community.
That presentation was in response to a previous discussion between town officials and another area emergency services provider.
In mid-August, Sable-Altura Fire & Rescue asked town officials to consider changing primary emergency service providers and that they have an approved $6 million bond that included $2 million being set aside for a new station in downtown Watkins.
According to Earl Cumley, Bennett Fire Chief, his department currently has four stations, two of which can directly service the Watkins planning area. In the future, Bennett plans to expand to seven stations, including having three or four that can provide service to Watkins.
“In addition to our two stations currently in Bennett, our station on [Highway] 36 east of Watkins, and the volunteer station at Quincy and County Road 129, we are looking to add stations at 88th Avenue and Highway 79 [north of Bennett], at Sky Ranch in Watkins (I-70 and Airpark Road), and we have been asked to build one at Front Range Airport,” Cumley said. “With that expansion, Watkins would have the services of at least three stations, with the possibility that the airport facility would also provide support.”
Cumley and Brad Hill, attorney for the department, indicated that an increase of the current 6.257 mill levy for the Bennett Fire Protection District isn’t expected in the near future because new stations are funded through a capital expansion fund which gets its money from fees paid by developments coming into the district.
Currently, residents in the 325-square-mile Bennett Fire Protection District — spanning 130th Avenue to the north, Arapahoe County Road 50 to the south, Monaghan Road to the west and the Lady Bird Hill area to the east — pay approximately $42 per $100,000 of assessed property value.
“Operational expenses are paid from the tax base derived from the mill levy,” Hill said. “A significant increase in those expenses may result in a bump in the mill levy, but that would be down the road.”
Cumley and Branden Baalman, district paramedic and firefighter, said that two career staff are now in place during the day at the Watkins station and that a shift program has been implemented to staff the station during the night with volunteer personnel.
“It’s been since the beginning of September that we have done this,” Cumley said. “Residents can be assured we have the staff and equipment available to meet their [emergency] demands.”
Bennett Fire has water availability from the town of Bennett, Antelope Hills, Front Range Airport and Prairie View and also has a 32,000-gallon cistern deeded over from Watkins Farms.
Baalman added that response times from the Watkins station average around 8 minutes.
This figure was disputed by Watkins Trustee Rick Grimm.
“I haven’t seen it, and haven’t heard that from any resident that I’ve talked to about this issue,” Grimm said.
In response, Cumley reiterated that the staffing of the Watkins station just started at the beginning of September and that previously volunteers had to get to the station prior to responding to an emergency or that emergency services came from Bennett.
“We really want to be your primary emergency services provider and making all efforts possible to give the town the staff, facilities and equipment needed to provide the best service possible,” Cumley said.
Grimm also said he is concerned with an ongoing rift between the Bennett and Sable-Altura districts and that more cooperation is needed between the two.
“I’m very concerned about the lack of cooperation between you (Bennett) and Sable-Altura because it’s the people you’re supposed to help in emergencies that are hurt by this,” Grimm said.
Grimm specifically cited instances that Sable-Altura was closer to emergencies but were not contacted by Bennett and vice versa. “It’s extremely concerning to me and should be to residents of this town.”
Cumley said he understands the concern and said that he has tried to contact Sable-Altura, but that those efforts haven’t been reciprocated.
Sable-Altura Chief Mark Campagnola, in attendance, said he has tried to contact Bennett and that the door has always been open at the station at Foxridge Farms and that Cumley hasn’t taken the opportunity.
Officials from both fire departments have accused the other of asking for assistance from stations or departments further away, thus sacrificing the health and safety of those in need of their services.
Cumley and Campagnola agreed to meet at Sable-Altura’s station at Foxridge Farms Oct. 5, but results of that meeting weren’t available at press time.
Watkins Mayor John Schmidt indicated that a change of the town’s emergency service provider would require a vote by the town’s residents, pending an affirmative vote of the town’s incorporation Nov. 7.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an on-line publication of
The I-70 Scout