The topic of fire protection service in Wonder Valley swept community consciousness this fall when residents learned that the fire district operating there for about $35 per parcel annually has become unsustainable and that charges even 10 times that might not eve be sufficient. Assignment reporter Mike Lipsitz says Saturday’s meeting aimed to put things in perspective…
Nearly 50 folks turned out to learn about fire service in the remote area east of Twentynine Palms. And while recent weeks have seen some call for killing the messenger, cooler heads prevailed Saturday as residents evaluated current conditions. County Fire Division Chief John Chamberlain opened the meeting clearly stating, San Bernardino County is NOT proposing any tax. The county, along with Wonder Valley’s Municipal Advisory Council delegate, Teresa Sitz, is alerting residents the existing district can’t remain operational beyond the end of this fiscal year June 30. In reality, the district ceased being self-sustaining months ago and would have ended already had the county not injected $650,000 to keep it open until the end of the year. Available options each include unique sets of considerations and predictably span from good service for a lot of money to seriously scaled back service for less. What happens next is entirely in the hands of Wonder Valley residents. Chamberlain said the community must take the reins on this. The topic promises to remain front and center in coming months.
A DOSE OF REALITY AT WONDER VALLEY FIRE MEETING
