Worthington Truth

The real facts relating to the Worthington Fire Department

 

Check back here often for additional information!!!

UPDATED 6-19-2008

 

THE JUNE BOARD MEETING WAS CANCELLED – NO REASON GIVEN !

NEXT BOARD MEETING

July 16, 2008, 7 pm Brownsboro Rd Station

 

Brownsboro Road Station Shrinking

 

No, not in physical size but in firefighters.  Two more volunteers have resigned leaving only five firefighters to respond to emergencies.  WHAT IS HAPPENING?  WHY ARE PEOPLE LEAVING?  At least 56 firefighters have left the Department since the summer of 2002.   WHY ?  The Chief says the Brownsboro Rd area doesn’t need an on duty 24 hour crew at this station.  Could the reason firefighters are leaving have anything to do with the “Thanks” listed below?  You have to wonder how far this will go before the Board takes action.  Let’s hope a real tragedy doesn’t happen before SOMEBODY WAKES UP!

______________________________________________________________________

 

Chief “thanks” former firefighters

 

Chief “thanks” former Worthington Firefighters.  In a letter dated November 20, 2007 at least three former members of the department received a letter demanding that they remove their volunteer firefighter license plate.  These plates were due to expire in about 30 days.  “Please be advised that you now have seven (7) business days, from the date of this correspondence, to return said plate and provide my office with a written acknowledgement from the County Clerk’s office that your volunteer license plate has been surrendered.”  No thanks for your years of service to the department.  No come back and visit where you spent  many years.  A copy of this letter was also sent to the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office AND the 8th division LMPD Commander.  Great, let’s call the police on former department members.

What a poor way to treat those who have served.

 

Why would anyone want to serve?

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NORTON COMMON FIRE STATION BID WAS APPROVED,  $4,300,000

For a two bay station!

At the Jan. Board meeting the Board approved a bond issue of $5,185,000.00

Look what the City of Louisville is doing.

2 new fire stations,

$4 million

 

Look further down for two other recently completed fire stations and compare.

This article was in the Courier-Journal, Thursday, Jan 17, 2008, Section B-3

Common sense has to prevail.

 

HOW CAN YOU SPEAK AT A BOARD MEETING IF THERE IS NO AGENDA POSTED?

 

Residents are still not being heard !

 

24-HOUR STAFFING AT THE BROWNSBORO RD STATION AND CONTINUED 24-HOUR COVERAGE AT THE MURPHY LN STATION

 

The Chief’s response to the question above is “Our statistics illustrate that the number of runs made from 8pm to 8am drastically decrease from the level of daytime runs in the area of the Brownsboro Rd station.”  He says the cost would be an extra $500,000 dollars and that this expense would be unnecessary.

 

Let’s look at the facts.  The cost of the 12 hour current crew is about $150,000 yearly.  The cost of a 24 hour crew is about $500,000.  Which means the actual additional cost is about $350,000.  Seems to be no problem spending $4,000,000 (OR POSSIBLY OVER 5 MILLION) on a firehouse for an area that was originally projected to not be completed for 10-15 years.  With the slow down in housing across the country there is no telling how many additional years before that project is completed.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to drive out there are see all of the undeveloped land. 

 

As one resident said at the July 18th board meeting and many others agreed …they didn’t want their tax money spent to build a community room for Norton Commons.

 

The residents/taxpayers in the Brownsboro Rd station area DESERVE 24-hour career staffing.  It’s outrageous to ignore these residents for a future development.  It’s way past time for this.

 

REEVALUATION OF THE NORTON COMMONS FIRE STATION

 

An INDEPENDENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT concerning the proposed $4,000,000.00 fire station is needed BEFORE any taxpayer’s money is spent.

 

The Chief has said his people can currently get to any place in the area in four minutes.  As one resident attending the July 18th board meeting commented, “If that is so, then why do you need another fire station?”  There was no answer.

 

Want to see what $4,000,000.00 buys you in Worthington?  You have to question the logic of the proposed station when comparing other neighboring departments who have recently constructed new fire stations.

 

 

See below the comparisons and judge for yourself.

 

Proposed Worthington station in Norton Commons:

Two bay fire station

Bedrooms for 9 firefighters

Administrative offices

Kitchen

Training room

THE LAND WAS FREE

Bldg COST $4,000,000.00

18,000 square feet

Cost per square foot

$222.22

 

 

North Oldham Fire Department   Completed 2004.

 

Five bay station

Room for up to 10 fire apparatus.

Drive through capability

State of the art fitness room.

Plenty of office space

45’ training tower

Classroom facilities for up to 50 people

Designed for expansion

Bldg Cost $2,700,000

18,500 square feet

COST PER SQUARE FOOT

$145.95

 

 

South Oldham Fire Department    Completed 2003.

Five Bay station with drive through

5 Offices on the first floor

Men’s & Women’s restrooms

Shop area

Sleeping quarters for 5 people plus

Workout facilities

Large lounge and laundry facilities

Training room

Large community room w/ kitchen facilities

Four acres of land

 BLDG COST $1,100,000 INCLUDES LAND

22,000 square feet

$50.00 PER SQUARE FOOT

 

 

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE WORHTINGTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

 

Chairperson Melissa Ames              Mayoral Appointee       Term expires:      June 30, 2009

mames@worthingtonfire.com       votes only in the event of a tie                                                                  

 

Secretary John Mcglynn                    Mayoral Appointee       Term expires:      June 30, 2008

jmcglynn@worthingtonfire.com   Voted AGAINST the new firehouse due to financial concerns

 

Shannon Davis                                        Property Owner Rep     Term expires;      June 30, 2010

sdavis@worthingtonfire.com        

 

Bill Rembold                                            Property Owner Rep     Term expires:      June 30, 2008

Deebill4@insightbb.com                 

                                                                       

Treasurer Dan Clark                            Firefighter Rep               Term expires:      June 30, 2009

dclark@worthingtonfire.com                                                                                

 

Kevin Groody                                            Firefighter Rep               Term expires:      June 30, 2011

kgroody@worthingtofire.com                   

 

Kevin Tyler                                                Mayoral Appointee       Term expires:      June 30, 2010

ktyler@worthingtonfire.com         

 

These people should be looking out for the citizens and taxpayers of the Worthington Community. 

Building OVERPRICED fire stations for an area that won’t be completely developed for 10-15 years WHILE IGNORING those living in the Brownsboro Rd area is indefensible.  Additionally, those living near the Murphy Ln station will LOSE all of the career firefighters now stationed there.

 

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

 

The Board meets on the third Wednesday of each Month, 7 pm at the Brownsboro Rd station.

PLEASE ATTEND THESE MEETINGS AND BECOME INFORMED.  Encourage your neighbors also to attend.

Tell the Board that this is OUR TAX MONEY they are spending and we don’t want it wasted.

 

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