Fire Protection: You Get What You Pay For

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On April 5, 2012, the Lumberton Board of Aldermen will vote to increase the water rates. . .again. They've devised a plan where they can ensure that all citizens are hit by this new rate hike. With the passage of the new ordinance, they will lower the minimum usage rate from 3,000 gallons/month to 2,000/gallons/month. Also, the new ordinance will require them to raise the water rates every year, despite the need for an increase. In essence, they're figuratively, tying the hands of every alderman that will serve from this date forward. But this post is not about the pending water bill rate increase, it's about the amount we're charged for fire protection. According to the water bill, fire protection (FP) is a grand total of .10/per household per month. Seriously? I don't know how much that generate every year, but I'm sure it's not enough to run an effective fire department. Why are we only being charged .10/month for fire protection? I don't agree with the water rates increase, mainly because there's no accountability or check and balances in place for WSOM, but who made the decision to assess .10/month for fire protection? I know I have ragged the Lumberton Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD), but I guess it boils down to you get what you pay for. Now, I'm not suggesting that the City of Lumberton just make an arbitrary assessment to help fund the fire department, but I think there needs to be some sort of review of what's needed to adequately support the LVFD. However, before the City of Lumberton start throwing the citizens of Lumberton funds into the flame, there needs to be a discussion about the contact the LVFD has with the City of Lumberton. I know Walters read this blog and hopefully, he could help me understand how an entity that is completely funded by the City of Lumberton is not under the control of the City of Lumberton. Once they straighten out that hose, then our elected officials and the members of the LVFD board need to come to the table and find a mutually beneficial contract that would benefit the City of Lumberton and the LVFD.

Comments

  1. Jerry WaltersMarch 23, 2012 at 2:48 PM

    Mr. Informer,
    I would be more than happy to sit down with you any time and discuss it.

    ReplyDelete

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