As a former fireman with the Sublimity Fire District, I know very well the demands placed on the people who volunteer to serve Sublimity on our Fire Department. The time taken away from jobs and family, hot dirty work with little pay other than the satisfaction of helping their community. We should continually thank those people for the commitment they make.

Much has changed since I first joined the department in 1976. The town has about tripled in population. Several supportive businesses are no longer in operation. Sublimity has evolved into a true bedroom community whose residents work elsewhere during the day. This means that even though there are three times as many calls for service today as compared to then, there are fewer people available to respond.

I think the time has come when we can no longer rely so heavily on volunteers and the two paid staff we currently have to respond to our requests for assistance. We will see even longer response times in the future, and without adequate personnel the efficiency at the scene of trouble is compromised. The bottom line is if we want a quick response and the ability to put out the fire or deliver the emergency care, we need more trained personnel available.

Measure 24-119 is designed to meet these manpower issues at a reasonable cost. I want to know that when we call for help that help will be coming, and that’s why I am voting yes and I hope you will too.

Sam Brentano