Small Town News

Will Voters Decide to Dissolve the ESD District No. 2?

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In an effort to enlighten residents in the Emergency Services District No. 2 area, the Grand Saline Sun; raised some real questions when we met last week with several key individuals.

First, we met with Grand Saline City Administrator, Stephen Ashley.

What will actually happen if the voters decide to dissolve the ESD. Ashley responded, "I don't know. It is a city council decision on what options they will take."

What is the potential impact on the community of Grand Saline for fire safety coverage? Ashley replied that if the ESD is dissolved, he was certain that the city's budget to the fire department would decrease and the cost to the city would go up to maintain the level of fire protection needed. He added that depending on what the council decides on whether the firefighters and fire trucks will continue to leave the city limits of Grand Saline, then 70% of the volunteers who reside outside the city could potentially no longer care to serve as volunteer firefighters. The City Council will decide whether funding will be available to continue to allow the firefighters to responds to fires outside the city. According to Ashley, the city would be forced to find ways to increase revenues that were previously generated by the ESD taxes. The city can increase the tax rate only a small amount and the city is capped at 8% because they might take a chance of a roll back in which case they would have to accept the previous year's budget and get no increase at all to meet expenses. The most that the city could increase taxes would be 7 cents which would bring a maximum of $42,000. ESD taxes provided some additional funds for the purchase of the fire truck and the $25,000 for the substation at Sand Flat this year bringing total funds of $218,750 for the fire department's overall budget which was unanimously approved by the ESD Board members. Some options the City Council might consider could include:

Discontinuing EMS Services outside the city limits

Find ways to increase funding

Increase the tax rate

Consider Repeal of the Senior tax cap if possible

Charge for services every time they go outside the city limits

Ashley added that it is up to the council's discretion because the citizens elect them. The Council's interest lies within the city of Grand Saline and their decisions have to protect the city residents first and foremost. Last year, 68% of all the calls for fire (grass, house, auto accidents) ran outside the city limits in the rural areas of the county. Canton was spending $280,000 going outside their city limits into the rural areas. Thus they discontinued going outside their city limits for free.

Will any money that is in the ESD account be given to the other Van Zandt County ESD? According to Ashley, the only thing that would go to another ESD is the equipment owned by the ESD. Since the ESD owns no equipment or property, whatever money currently in their account could be refunded to those residents within the county who request a refund. Whatever funds were in the account would be divided up to all those who had requested it although Ashley was not completely clear on whether all taxpayers in the district would receive tax monies back or just those who specifically request it.

Who was responsible for the improprieties of the election when several people claim they did not get to vote? According to Ashley, "That boat has sailed. The election was certified and it was approved. Those people should have filed within a limited timeframe set by law in order to contest that election. The board would have to have compelling evidence now that the ESD is no longer needed and prove that there are no benefits for the ESD.

There are rampant rumors about the recent petition presented to the ESD board that it was passed around in a church during services, that it was commingled with the petition for the wet/dry alcohol issue to trick people into signing it, and several residents from Sand Flat said they were told the petition they thought they signed was to get a sub fire station built in Sand Flat which would benefit the residents there. According to Ashley, if any citizens know about any improprieties in the way the petition was handled, they should call the Grand Saline Sun, appear at the ESD Board Meeting to clarify those facts, and call the Grand Saline Volunteer Fire Department to verify this information. The petition was first presented as a petition to have a fair and legal election, then the board changed the description of the petition during the last ESD meeting saying "It was to dissolve the ESD."

Who is coming to the ESD Workshop on Monday, March 8th? Jesse Williams, Texas State Fire Marshal from Austin, an ISO Representative from Austin, and Jimmy Woodrum, from the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA).

What will they present to the attendees at the workshop?

A 30 minute presentation.

o How the ISO affects communities

o How the grading system works

o What it takes

o Benefits of ISO ratings

o How it helps homeowners, renters and property owners

Answer questions on why insurance agents do or don't go by the ISO ratings. Large insurance companies are regulated, but a lot of the large companies have little ones that are unregulated. They don't have to go to the state to raise their rates.

In a call to ESD Board Member, John Robison, we asked What he felt was the number one issue surrounding the ESD controversy and he replied that it was the election in 2006 and people say it was not fair. According to Robison, he voted for the ESD, he has read the ESD regulations, and the contract with the City of Grand Saline. Robison indicated that in talking with people from one extreme to the other, he believes that if there is a new election, the people will vote to keep the ESD in place and the controversy will go away. After County Commissioner Ron Carroll recommended that he serve on the board, Robison wrote on his application to serve on the ESD Board that, "My Desire is to use my knowledge and experience to help improve our ESD. I will work diligently to spend tax dollars wisely, be fair and unbiased in representing citizens, and be always honest and ethical."

We asked Ashely: Can you explain why Robison signed a petition in November of 2009 for the dissolution of the ESD and then the Commissioners ironically placed him on the ESD Board? In our meeting with Ashley, he responded that Commissioner Virgil Melton supposedly read all of the applications before they made the recommendation. We asked Robison why his name was on the most recent petition to dissolve the ESD and he replied, "My feelings are based on what I hear at the hearing on how I should vote. Between that time and the time of the election, I will decide. I am not opposed to a new election."

?ESD Board Member, Sid Shumake, stated on his application to serve on the ESD Board, "As a taxing entity, ESD boards have a legal and moral obligation to total transparency and equal treatment to every citizen in ESD without exception or preference, and equally every firefighter deserves our respect and support!"

Was Sid Shumake the Election Judge at the time of the ESD Election and have you heard that there were any improprieties during that election? According to Ashley, all the rumors about what was said as heresay with no direct proof.

What is the reason that the ESD Board members do not have to be elected to office, but are appointed by the Commissioners' Court? Ashley responded that when an ESD district covers multiple counties, then the board members have to be elected to the board. This ESD covers only one county.

Why do those opposed to the ESD keep bringing back petitions?

Ashley responded that unless there is a different place in the statutes that gives a time frame, there is nothing under Chapter 775 that shows there is a constraint against bringing petition after petition. However, only one election can be held regarding the ESD per year.

Is it true that one person signed a petition because he was told it was for a Public Hearing on the ESD but he was not told it was for the purpose of dissolving this ESD? Ashley responded that this was true.

Who pays for the elections that are held? According to Ashley, the citizens in the county pay for the cost of the ESD election every time. This comes out of the ESD taxpayer funds. There is no way to estimate the costs however, a spokesperson from the County Commissioner's Office advised the Grand Saline Sun that the cost to have the wet/dry alcohol election for Fruitvale would cost the county $2,000 and $3,000 for Grand Saline. Spokesperson claimed that it was up to those wanting the issue passed to pay for the election. One can assume that the cost for a new ESD election could exceed $5,000 based on the spokesperson in the County Commissioner'is office.

What is a dry hydrant? A diry hydrant is when a pond or lake meets the requirements to be certified to improve; a homeowner's protection class so they could see a benefit in their homeowner's insurance. The ESD cunrently has 8 certified ponds;. The ESD allows the funding to make these dry hydrants available for water operation to meet ISO requirements in the rural setting that benefits homeowners by getting lower insurance ratings. The ESD pays for the ground work to place the dry hydrants. Ashley explained that the ESD iis more than just fires and ambulances. He explained that the ESD is actually 'Public Safety'. It is about air bags, jaws of life, and other equipment necessary for removing someone from a serious accident.

What iis the controversy about ESD District residents paying Ambulance Membership Dues?

According to Ashley the state requires it to be called a 'Subscription fee' and it is totally voluntary. Anyone who wants to discontinue paying the $5.00 per month on their water bill can ask the city to remove their name from this 'Subscription fee'. The 'Subscription fee' is entirely the option of each individual and not mandatory but could become mandatory if the ESD is dissolved and the City Council decides to implement a fee. Right now this is voluntary, but it could change and taxes could be raised later to supplement the ambulance memberships. Grand Saline is located in a Level IV trauma area which is 45 minutes away from a Level I hospital.

?If the ESD is dissolved, when can another petition be presented to the Commissioners' Court to have another election to form another ESD? According to Ashley, if the ESD is dissolved, another petition cannot be presented to set another election for approval of a new ESD for a full year. It could actually be a two year window before any revenues go into the ESD in the event a new ESD was approved by another election.

How does it make a lot of sense if someone is not opposed to the ESD, but they are willing to spend the taxpayers' money to have another election to dissolve the ESD and then another election to bring it back? It does not.

Why did people sign the petition? According to Ashley, anyone who signed the recent petition is saying they are okay with paying out of their pockets for fire protection of all the people who live outside the city limits. Whereas, with the ESD in place, everyone pays and everyone benefits. Residents in the city benefits because the GSVFD got the ISO rate lowered to a 4. ESD #2 was on its way to getting lowered in the rural areas too, but that appears to be on hold by the upcoming probable new election to dissolve the ESD. In other words, if you live in the city limits and you signed this petition, you agreed to pay the biggest majority of the cost for those residents outside the city to have the fire protection. Anyone who pays taxes in the city limits will be providing fire protection for those in the county off their own backs, at a cost to Grand Saline not the people in the county."

What is the difference in the fire department and the ambulance service where the ESD is concerned? Ashley responded that the Ambulance service is run just like any other business. When an ambulance runs out on a call, there are people who have to be paid, IVs, IV bags, expiration dates on supplies, costs of supplies. The city has to have an EMS and a Paramedic ready to go at all times in case of a call. These are two paid people and the Ambulance service is a business and it runs like a business. When it goes out, it has significant costs associated with it and it has to be billed to insurance up to what the insurance will pay. It has to recoup its costs. Sometimes there is no insurance to pay. The ambulance may have to transport someone to Tyler, Dallas, or other locations which requires a lot of fuel, and equipment. All the

Ambulance services are set up on the very same guidelines on how they bill Medicaid and Medicare such as Champion, ETMC, etc. The county has contracted with Champion Ambulance services and they have one in Edom, two in Canton, one in Edgewood and one in Emory. Even with 5 ambulances by Champion in the county, the Grand Saline Ambulance service still provides mutual aid to them. Grand Saline ambulances are stationary and do not post like other EMS services do which helps reduce response time., but Champion's ambulances float and roam around.

How are grants determined for the fire department ? When the fire department applies for various grants, the grantor looks at the department's bank account and whether the department has the money to match the grant. The grant which the GSVFD is receiving would not have been possible without the current

ESD. Those funds will purchase replacement gear for the firemen and a thermal camera.

How were the ESD boundaries set up ? According to Ashley, back in the 1980's fire departments got together to determine the boundaries and agreed upon a boundary for each department that they would each provide services for. GSVFD used to run the school districts and had to go across 1-20 until they started looking at different boundaries in the 1980s.

How will this appear on the ballot? Ashley replied that it will be confusing because people will have to vote "NO" to keep the ESD, and they will have to vote "YES" to dissolve it on the ballot.

Wrapping up the interview with Ashley, he added, "This year alone, to generate the same level of funding approved this year by the ESD ($218,750) the city would have had to do a 34 cents per one hundred dollar value in the tax rate in the city of Grand Saline which is ridiculous, illegal, and not possible. The city can only possibly raise the tax rate by 7 cents per one hundred dollar value.

The very top of each page of the petition had in very large and bold letters: WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, UNDERSTAND THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS PETITION IS TO CALL FOR AN ELECTION TO DISSOLVE THE VAN ZANDT COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO. 2. The Grand Saline Sun has a copy of the recent petition. If anyone wants to determine whether their name is on that petition, you may call Veta Weaver at the Grand Saline Sun.

These are actual facts regardless of anyone's position on the issue. The reality is almost sure that the ESD board will approve the petition to call for another election to dissolve this ESD. Will the voters give up the improvements that have been made by the ESD taxes they have paid? Will they vote to dissolve the Emergency Services District? Is there any way to make both sides happy? Only time will tell!



Copyright 2010 Grand Saline Sun, Grand Saline, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Grand Saline Sun Grand Saline, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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