The Twentynine Palms City Council and Water District Board met in a joint session last night. Reporter David Haldane says it looks like they came to an agreement on how to meet the requirements to transfer the Fire Department to the County…
Finally!
That was the majority sentiment at Monday night’s joint meeting of the Twentynine Palms City Council and Water District where the two agencies reached accord on the county’s takeover of local firefighting services.
Under the agreement the district will sell its Adobe Road fire station and temporarily deactivate a $3 million liability required to fund firefighters’ pensions. For Twentynine Palms property owners, it will mean an increase in the cost of firefighting services, a fact that prompted the only two no votes.
Water District Director Carol Giannini said she favors reorganizing the existing fire department to live within its means and City Council member Cora Heiser said she couldn’t approve a tax increase that voters oppose.
The agreement still faces two hurdles; a public hearing before the Local Agency Formation Commission and a final chance for citizens to vote it down at a future protest hearing.
TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY, WATER BOARD, REACH AGREEMENT ON FIRE DEPARTMENT
