HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail from Terry Cleland regarding Fire Station 42 Menchaca, Clarissa
From: Bennett, Robin
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 '11:02 AM
To: Hahn, Paul
Cc: Snyder, Ashley; Menchaca, Clarissa
Subject: FW: Station 42
Attachments: Station 42.do,cx
11,0,S email inessage and attached letter Ivoin 'J'erry Cleland, Controller.
Robin Benaett,
L.vecuiire Assistan.t
(530) 872-6304 rbennell Lt 14,1ecounty.net
Qf
'�ice
Board o Supenvisors.,
.f District IJ
747 h.71iol.I. Road
Paradise., 959'69
From:Terry Cleland [mailto:TCleland@compassequip.com)
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 4:03 PM
To:Connelly, Bill <BConnelly@buttecounty.net>; Wahl, Larry<LWahl@buttecounty.net>; Kirk, Maureen
<M Kirk@ buttecounty.net>; BOS District 4<District4@buttecounty.net>;Teeter, Doug<DTeeter@buttecounty.net>
Subject:Station 42
Good afternoon,
I strongly disagreed with your decision on, closing Station 42 at yesterdays meeting. My first thought was,to write a letter
to the Editor of the Enterprise Record. I wrote the letter but am only sending it to you and not the newspia:per.
I think you have a difficult job and this was a tough decision. I do believe what I said in my letter about how dangerous
this is and you are using fire danger to get your budget point across is true.
I also wonder if the County Administrator is taking into account the additional tax revenues to be generated by the dam
repair.There will be sales taxes on equipment, parts and fuel as well as additional uinsecured property taxes, probably
not$3M but substantial.
You all do a good job and I support 99%of your actions but missed the mark on this one.
Thank You,
Terry Cleland
Controller-Compass Equipment Inc.
Office 530-533-7284
Direct 530-538-3911
Cell 530-518-2684
May 23, 2017
Terry Cleland
98 Rock Creek Road
Chico, Ca. 95973
Dear Editor,
I attended the Butte County Supervisor's meeting today in Oroville. I was extremely disappointed in the
decision to close the CAL Fire Station 42 in North Chico.The vote to close was three to one with
Supervisor Larry Wahl expressing the lone rational voice to keep the station open. Supervisor Kirk was
absent from the meeting. The blame is not only on the County Supervisors but the Chico City Council.
The Council refused to cooperate financially to keep the station open, even though the station serves
80%city residents.
Speakers from the audience presented compelling data the County has projected reserves of nineteen
million dollars and could have funded the three million dollars to keep the station open without
endangering the financial future of the County. It appeared to me the dissenting supervisors were
playing a game of chicken with the city, state and residents using fire as blackmail.The formation of a
special fire district was discussed as a future alternative but would not keep the station open for the
current fire season.
In my lay opinion closing this station makes no common sense,West Chico may need more resources
but closing station 42 leaves a huge gap in protection for the North Chico area.This area contains
residential neighborhoods and grasslands surrounding the airport.These grasslands are the gateway to
the foothills along Rock and Mud Creeks. For whatever reason,from airplanes, big rig trucks, industrial
businesses or careless human activity,there seems to be many fires in this grassland area. In the past
station 42 was able to respond in minutes to prevent these fires from spreading to the foothills or
structures.This year with grasses being exceptionally high not having station 42 open will lead to much
more dangerous and damaging fires.
When public agencies play the budget card we know the discussion is over. Of course as a taxpayer who
believes fire and police protection are the service we most expect from our tax dollars. At least
supervisor Steve Lambert acknowledged this fact but still voted to close the station. With all the
negative publicity for DWR over Oroville Dam I sincerely hope in the coming months Cal Fire,the County
and City don't suffer the same fate if a disastrous fire occurs in this area.
Sincerely,
Terry Cleland