Chelsea Voters for Better Government
March 2, 2004
A goal of Chelsea Voters for Better Government is to help inform citizens about issues affecting the quality of life in our town.
The first topic for consideration is the Chelsea Fire and Rescue Department (SEE BELOW) since this directly relates to our safety and our homeowner’s insurance premiums.
Subsequently, similar information about other topics of concern will be distributed. If you wish to recommend a topic (or topics) this will be welcomed and appreciated. We might not be able to cover all of them, but we will do our best to present those of interest to most citizens.
We hope for a better-informed citizenry committed to vote in the next election for city officials. This election will be held on August 24, 2004.
Sincerely,
Juanita J. Champion, Treasurer
P. S. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors who might not yet be registered to vote in Chelsea. If they will give us their names and addresses, we will be glad to include them in future mailings.
Chelsea Municipal Fire and Rescue Service
We compliment all the members of the Chelsea Fire and Rescue Service past and present. Theirs is the most important service a community can provide and should be the top priority of elected government officials.
History As a Volunteer Department:
The Chelsea Fire and Rescue Department was started in 1977 as a volunteer organization. The first station was on Hwy 280. A second station on Hwy 69 was added later. Prior to becoming part of the city, the fire department had 35 volunteers on its rolls. These volunteers lived in our community. Many of them were highly qualified since they worked as full-time firemen/medics with other departments.
History as a Municipal Department:
On October 1, 2000, the City of Chelsea took over the volunteer fire organization which then became the City of Chelsea Municipal Fire and Rescue Department. Since that time, the number of volunteers has dwindled to almost none. A meager staff of part-time paid persons (usually 2-3) mans the fire and rescue vehicles. Many of them do not live in the City of Chelsea. A new fire truck, previously on order, was purchased by city in 2000. Since that time, during which the population of the city has grown dramatically, no additional significant acquisitions have been made; and some of the existing equipment has not been maintained in adequate operating order. All emergency calls are responded to from the station on Hwy 280 causing long response times to the southern part of our city. Weather-warning sirens purchased by the city sat uninstalled for well over a year in the unmanned station on Hwy 69.
Fire Department Revenues:
Prior to the city taking it over, the Chelsea Volunteer Fire Department was funded by donations from the residents and businesses in its coverage area. Since the take over, funding has been provided entirely by the city. Fire and rescue services have been supplied free of charge to all persons and businesses within the previous coverage area, even to those not in the city. For those persons and businesses outside the city, a grace period of three years was granted during which they would continue to receive services free of charge. The grace period ended on October 1, 2003. Fees for service for those outside the city have not yet been implemented. This give-away has been a negative incentive for those persons and businesses to annex into the city. As a result, the city has been deprived of sales taxes from these businesses and revenue from building permits and construction materials for building outside the city. Is this the kind of leadership and financial management we want from our city officials?
Your Home Insurance Premium:
Every fire department is rated by the Insurance Standards Organization (ISO). This rating directly affects the amount of insurance premiums paid by those in a department's service area. Originally, the Chelsea volunteer fire organization had a rating of 10 (the worst). Later this rating was reduced to a 9. In 1996, after much effort by the volunteers, the rating was lowered to a 5. This resulted in a dramatic reduction of insurance premiums (as much as one-half) for residents and businesses in this area. Today, city government officials have no plan to further improve our ISO rating. In fact, if the ISO re-tested our department now, these officials would be hard pressed to maintain the current rating.
Fire Department Needs:
In 1998, a strategic plan was developed for the Chelsea Fire and Rescue Department. It called for full-time, paid firemen/medics, more volunteers, new equipment and 2 or 3 more fire stations. Since the take over by the city, the plan has not been followed. Chelsea has no full-time firemen. Volunteers are few. No major new equipment has been secured since 2000. Much of the existing equipment is antiquated and not maintained in good operating condition; and there still are only two fire stations. Meanwhile, Chelsea elected officials have put us in debt in order to spend millions on a city hall and a water line. Again, is this the kind of leadership and financial management we want from our mayor and council members?
What You Can Do:
Take time to personally look at the two fire stations and the new city hall. Judge for yourself if our City leaders have the correct priorities.
 |
 |
|
Chelsea unmanned
Fire Station #2 on Highway 69 |
New Multimillion Dollar Chelsea Town Hall
under Construction at 39 & 47 |
Paid political literature submitted by Chelsea Voters for Better Government, 60 Chelsea Corners, PMB 111, Chelsea, AL 35043, Juanita J. Champion, Treasurer
Submitted by...
Juanita Champion
Posted 03/2/2004
