To the editor:
We the Secession Committee deeply regret the fact that we failed to explain to those who have concerns about the process or the intricate details that went into the report submitted to the public and the City Council. The environment in which the public hearing was held was tense with feelings running high on both sides of the issue of separation.
I wish to take this opportunity to ease one of the concerns that was mentioned at the public hearing. First, the fire department; there were those that had suggested that an all-volunteer department could not operate on the funding we suggested was adequate. Our studies were based on real fire departments that are considered at the top of the list of first class fire departments by the fire insurance organization rating fire departments.
North Shore Fire Dept. operated by Aroostook County and the Van Buren Fire Dept., both all-volunteer fire departments, were used for our analyses. North Shore operates three fire stations: one in Township 17 range 4 (the Long Lake region of Sinclair), one in the Cross Lake Township (which includes Guerrette), and one in Township 16 Range 4 (the Madawaska Lake region). The North Shore Fire Dept. operates these three stations serving these three communities on a operating budget of less than $70,000 annually.
The county is also setting aside $14,000 this year for each station in their capital expense budget for a total nearing $112,000 which equates to less than $38,000 for each community it serves.
The Van Buren Fire Dept. operates out of one fire station and has the responsibility of responding to the four communities it services: Van Buren, Hamlin, Cyr Plantation and Township 17, Range 3 (the Van Buren Cove region on Long Lake). The Van Buren department operated on a budget of $82,940. Van Buren does not set aside capital expenses for a particular department, rather it sets aside $50,000 annually for the whole community and draws on this to replace the needs of all departments. The town authorizes the expenditure of $20,000 for the purchase of a fire truck. The Fire Dept. purchased a good refurbished truck, one that met their wants and was fully functional to meet their needs.
In the calendar year July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 it will cost Van Buren $102,940 to meet the needs of the four communities it serves. This amounts to an average cost of $25,985 per community.
Using these two fire departments that supply fire protection to seven townships, the Secession Committee believes and strongly suggests that the new town of Lyndon can and should operate a superb fire department for an annual cost of $40,000.
This is what the Committee was trying to say at the public hearing and again we greatly regret the fact that it did not happen. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that this is a reasonable proposition.
Maynard St. Peter
Caribou
