What will your support cost?

The District estimates that the cost of the bond will be 0.28 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. That is a cost of $42.00 on a home valued at $150,000, or $3.50 per month.

What will your support accomplish?

The Woodburn Fire District supplies fire fighting and emergency response services from five fire stations to citizens in a 75 square mile area, including the Cities of Woodburn and Gervais.

It has been 27 years since you last approved a bond issue for Woodburn Fire. That bond provided financing for two fire stations in the City of Woodburn and the purchase of a fire engine and a ladder truck.

Since 1990 your fire district has reduced its operating budget by more than $900,000 in response to the passage of Measure 5 in 1990 and Measure 47/50 in 1996. In 1991 the District had 17 fire fighting apparatus, 12 full-time employees, 70 volunteers and responded to more than 1,700 calls for assistance. In 2002 the District has 12 fire fighting apparatus, 15 full-time employees, 40 volunteers and will respond to more than 2,000 calls.

With the passage of the bond, your fire district will upgrade its stations, apparatus and equipment including, but not limited to these projects:

• $1,500,000 for an addition to the Headquarters Station including additional offices to ease over crowded work areas, training rooms and separate dorm facilities for men and women firefighters.

• $305,000 to provide weatherization and conservation upgrades at all of the facilities. A new roof and earthquake upgrading for the James St Station. New roof and sewer system for the Waconda Station. Provide back up emergency power for all of our stations.

• $500,000 for a new fire station located west of I-5 to enhance the response into Gervais and Broadacres.

• $275,000 to purchase a fire engine and $225,000 for a midi-pumper.

• $750,000 to purchase a new ladder truck that would replace the one purchased 27 years ago, which is showing its age and is costly to maintain. The ladder truck will be used to rescue people from structures, elevate a large water stream to combat fires and to get firefighters onto the roofs of structures to release smoke and heat.

• $250,000 to replace a “tender” used to haul water to fires in those areas without fire hydrants.

• $500,000 to upgrade tools and equipment used for firefighting, rescue and emergency medical.

• $300,000 to cover underwriting, insurance and associated costs of the Bond sale.

Submitted by,

Kevin Hendricks, Fire Chief

Woodburn Fire District