The city of Hailey hopes President Obama's stimulus package will help make a long-awaited dream come true for the its Fire Department—a new fire station in Woodside.
The City Council ratified a federal grant application Monday night prepared by the Hailey Fire Department to seek funding for a new $2 million fire station at the east end of Countryside Boulevard.
The city was given about an acre of property there 35 years ago for the purpose of protecting the south side of the city. Three years ago, Hailey citizens voted against raising taxes to build a station in Woodside. Many residents called instead for a consolidation of fire departments in the area before building more stations.
A "summit meeting" between the Hailey Fire Department, Wood River Fire and Rescue and other agencies is scheduled for late August to discuss the possibility of department consolidations to increase efficiency and save money.
Fire Chief Mike Chapman said in an interview that the new station, if built, will improve the city's fire insurance rating and save property owners a collective $1 million per year in insurance premiums.
"This will amount to a savings of $30 to $50 per year, per property owner," said Chapman, whose long-range plans call for building two new stations, one on the north side of the city and one on the south side, and de-commissioning the existing station on Third Street.
Wood River Fire and Rescue Chief Bart Lassman said he is open to the possibility of sharing equipment and personnel at the station, if is built, but that a station on the north end of Hailey would better serve his agency's long-range plans.
In 1976, Wood River Fire and Rescue was established to serve those living in the surrounding county. A fire station was built next to the Hailey Fire Department on city property.
In recent years, disagreements have arisen between the two departments on how to operate together most effectively.
Both departments hope to expand outward from the city center and decommission the existing stations next door to one another on Third Street.
The Hailey department needs to have a station within 1.5 miles of every city resident to meet its needs. Wood River Rural needs a station within five miles of the citizens it serves.
"Sometimes sharing equipment in one another's fire stations can save tax dollars," Lassman said.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
The City Council ratified a federal grant application Monday to seek funding for a new $2 million fire station for the Hailey Fire Department. Photo by Mountain Express
