Proposition 1, which would create a Regional Fire Authority for emergency service providers in the South Beach area, will appear on the August primary ballot.
At a meeting of the Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee in Westport Tuesday, commissioners were updated on plans to publicize and promote the proposition by Captain Daryl Brown, who heads the public relations committee for the proposition. He gave the committee members a “letter of intent” which, along with a trifold informational pamphlet, will be mailed to registered voters in the region.
“This is a valuable, important tool so constituents will know about the Regional Fire Authority,” he said. The committee approved both the letter and trifold informational pamphlet and agreed the cost of printing and mailing both to the area’s 2,900 registered voters would be split among the districts.
The Regional Fire Authority would combine Grays Harbor fire districts 3, 11 and 14 with Pacific County Fire District 5 and the City of Westport Fire Department in to one entity. Proponents of Proposition 1 say it will provide financial and operational efficiencies by providing regional emergency services while maintaining local control. It would streamline emergency services, they say, and would provide uniform training to volunteers and full time firefighters and emergency service providers.
It would also provide stability to the funding structure of South Beach emergency services, according to proponents. They also say there would be a decrease in operational costs, and improved response time with a centralized communications center.
Educating the public is the key to getting the 60 percent yes vote tally needed to pass Proposition 1, said Brown.
“We will be at Pirate Days (June 23-25), with a booth, handing out information, and we will have a presence in the parade,” he said. “And then we will be at the Tokeland Independence Day parade and barbecue (July 1).”
A PowerPoint presentation was created to further educate voters about the benefits of creating a Regional Fire Authority. It was screened to a test group in Westport Wednesday evening, where volunteers were able to critique the presentation and provide proponents with a set of questions and answers they may face while promoting the proposition.
“We’ve been discussing holding public meetings,” said Brown. “We’re thinking about two town hall style meetings, one in the north part of the region and one in the south.”
Brown recommended the commission have the Regional Fire Authority attorney present at the town hall meetings, and the commission approved the notion.
“There’s an advantage to having an expert on Regional Fire Authorities at these meetings,” said Art Cole, South Beach EMS Director. “He could answer questions we couldn’t, and if it gained us even 25 votes it would be worth the $1,000 or so it would cost to have him there.”
There will also be a radio campaign that could include paid advertisements and interviews, said Brown. He added that anyone who supports the formation of a Regional Fire Authority can make donations to help with the cost of the campaign through the South Beach Ambulance Association, a nonprofit organization located in Westport.
The commission will meet again in the Westport City Council meeting room June 29 at 5 p.m.
DAN HAMMOCK | THE DAILY WORLD Proponents of Proposition 1, which would create a Regional Fire Authority in South Beach, are busy promoting the proposition. This sign was on a car outside the Regional Fire Authority Planning Commission meeting held in Westport on Tuesday.
