WE NEED YOUR HELP

HERE ARE SOME FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

The number of Rural Fire Association Members continues to decrease.

The City does not have the resources to replace either one of our primary fire trucks should something happen to them.

We have lost members to the Fire Protection District to our East. To our North one community wants to establish a Fire Protection District and take in many current Hardin Rural Fire Association members.

The costs of insurance, equipment, and maintenance continue to go up. A new basic Fire Truck is $136,000. Outfitting one volunteer firefighter with Helmet, Coat, Pants, Boots, Gloves, and a pager can cost over $1,000. Other equipment like firehose, nozzles, radios, axes, etc. have to be replaced or repaired.

HERE IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT

The number of Rural Fire Association Members is anticipated to continue to decrease. New construction in Hardin is very limited so tax revenues are not increasing. These two facts mean that in the near future there will not be sufficient funds to provide for adequate Fire Protection. One has only to look at other communities like Henrietta, Camden, or Fleming to see the results of this. Ask your insurance agent what would happen to your homeowner’s policy if there were no local fire protection. Our current primary firetrucks were built in 1967 and 1971. We do not have enough fire coats, pants, boots, and helmets to provide each of our volunteer firefighters with a set.

HERE IS WHAT WE PROPOSE

That a Fire Protection District be created covering the rural area and the city of Hardin. This Fire Protection District will be run by a five member Board of Directors elected by the citizens of the district. This five person Board of Director will decide how all levy dollars will be spent. Tax dollars will not be spent for paid personnel. They will be spent on better equipment. This proposal has the backing of the Hardin Rural Fire Association, the City of Hardin, and the Hardin Volunteer Firemen.

WHAT DOES THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DO FOR ME?

A valid question. Services provided by the Fire Department include:

Fire Suppression – Answer all fire calls and suppress all structure, auto or brush fires.

Fire Safety – A yearly Fire Safety program is offered for grades K through 6 at Hardin Central Elementary.

CPR Training – CPR training for all volunteer firemen is offered. CPR classes are also offered to members of the community for the cost of the materials used. Other folks charge as much as $15 for each person attending a class.

Hazardous Materials – Classes are held to educate the dangers and procedures for Hazardous Materials emergencies.

Search – The fire department acts in coordination with the Sheriffs Department to searches of lost or missing persons.

LifeFlight duties – The fire department provides for safe landing zones for LIFEFLIGHT emergencies.

HOW DO I COMPUTE THE COST TO ME?

The Hardin Rural Fire Board has proposed the needed levy to be 20 cents for every 100 dollars of assessed value. This is how you figure it:

Appraised value multiplied by 19% = Assessed Value. Assessed Value divided by 100 = Tax Value. Tax Value multiplied by the Tax Rate = Tax Amount. For instance a home (real estate) appraised at $30,000:

30,000 X .19 = 5700. 5700 / 100 = 57. 57 X .20 = $11.40 (Tax Amount)

The levy will be assessed against real estate and personal property.

HOW WILL IT HAPPEN?

The City has passed a resolution to lease the current Fire Station to the new Fire Protection District.

The City has passed a resolution to donate all current fire fighting equipment to the new Fire District.

The Rural Association will donate all of its fire fighting equipment to the new Fire District.

All equipment purchased by the Hardin Volunteer Firemen is already a part of the Fire Department.

If passed, the levy will not be collected until December of 1999.

HOW CAN I HELP?

Vote for the Hardin Fire Protection District on Tuesday, November 3rd, 1998. Encourage your neighbors to vote also.

THE PEOPLE WHO YOU CALL FOR HELP NEED YOUR HELP. VOTE YES ON NOVEMBER 3RD – HARDIN FIRE PROTECTION DIST.