May 30, 2007

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            “I am not against the fire department,” Williams said. “My concern is the taxpayers of this community deserve the best fire service we can afford to give them.” His position is that the town needs to use its money in the best way, the most efficient way, and to do that the town needs to work closely with the fire department.

            “I’m suggesting we sit down, the fire department, the town of Wake Forest and the county, at least, and maybe form a working committee and form a plan that everybody can agree to for fire stations and fire equipment.

            “I want to be explained to why they need certain pieces of equipment. I’m not an expert about fire service and neither is Mr. Swift (Fire Chief Jerry Swift) an expert in financing,” Williams said,.

            “Let’s take this year (before the county-wide revaluation of property) to study it and come up with a plan.” Williams also said he was “sorry this has become an antagonistic issue between the chief and myself.”

            Chief Swift, Commissioner Velma Boyd-Lawson said, “is somebody new who’s much more aggressive. In the past the fire chief sat down with the manager. That discussion has not happened. He’s (Williams) is protecting our funds. If he has not had a chance to sit down and have a dialogue with him, I don’t think the chief knows where we’re coming from. The funding is going to come, but it has to be done the right way for the citizens of Wake Forest and for the citizens of the county.”

            The commissioners left the fire department’s share of the tax rate untouched at 10 cents for this year’s budget.

            Later this month the town will give the fire department a check for at least $206,203 – probably more – to “true up” its 10-cent share of the 2006-2007 tax rate with the actual tax base in June.

            In July the department will receive the first of four quarterly checks for the $2,027,900 Williams and the board have budgeted for the department in the coming fiscal year.

            As a first step toward meeting the town’s fire protection needs, Williams suggested the town board schedule a meeting with the fire department’s chief, Jerry Swift, and the board of directors. That meeting could take the place of the town board’s usual mid-year one-day retreat. The retreat will focus on the fire department.

            “We need to all meet together at least one time to get a sense of where everybody’s going,” Mayor Vivian Jones said.

            A date for the meeting has not been set.

            The town has already begun work on a proposed impact fee on new construction to help pay for the fire department’s capital needs. Deputy Town Manager Roe O’Donnell said he has called Raftelis, a consulting firm the town used before the water and sewer merger with Raleigh.

            “They hope to begin that [study] in August,” O’Donnell said. It will take about three months, and the commissioners should have the results by November. The study will cost $10,000.

            Commissioner Frank Drake asked why there has to be a study.

            “It has to have a rational nexus (a connection or link),” O’Donnell said. “We have been through this with water and sewer impact fees. It is a fairly complicated process for how you set it. It needs to be defensible in court.”

            Williams said the board could set the impact fee any time after the study is complete and after a public hearing. Drake was satisfied: “All we’re losing is the 2007 construction fee.” The fee would probably be charged when builders take out their building permits.

            Jones also reminded the board that the former fire chief, David Williams Jr., came to the board in January of 2006 with the plans and costs for the west-side station. He and the board of directors wanted to be assured the town would support the plan.

            At that time developer Jim Adams offered to donate land for the station, probably at the corner of Wake Union Church and Kearney roads. Since then the fire board has questioned whether that will be the best location for the quickest access.

            Chief Williams estimated the cost of the station – including planning, design, construction and equipment – would be $1.32 million with the town and the county sharing the cost on a 75-25 basis. (For the full article about Williams’ proposal, go the Jan. 4, 2006, edition of the Gazette in the archives.)

            Last Wednesday night the commissioners also looked briefly at the public safety portion of the proposed budget. The town’s contract with the independent fire department is 27.1 percent of the total budget, with the town’s police department budgeted for the rest of the $7,484,755 total, or $5,456,863.

            “When it (the fire department) becomes a town department, the cost will go up significantly and be at least comparable to the police department,” Williams said.

            “So you’re telling me we’re getting a deal,” Commissioner Margaret Stinnett said.

            “We’re getting a very efficient deal,” Williams said, adding, “If I could figure out a way to contract the police department, I would.”

            Williams also said there would be a higher level of scrutiny over expenditures if or when the fire department is part of the town.

            From the back row, Police Major Jeff Leonard, a long-time volunteer fire fighter, agreed. Individuals in the fire department can spend $5,000 or $10,000, he said. “I can’t spend $100 without Aileen (Staples, the finance director] or Mark [Williams] beating me over the head.”