Published: December 02, 2008 03:29 pm            

County discusses city’s rural fire policy

Payne County Commissioners discussed Stillwater City Council’s proposed amendments to the city’s rural fire policy Monday.

The issue was brought up during the commission meeting, and commissioners said city officials didn’t tell them a change was being addressed.

“We are a little left out of the loop learning about it later,” Commissioner Gloria Hesser said after the meeting. “It makes you feel kind of behind the scenes.”

She said the commissioners found out about the city ordinance, which was approved on first reading at the City Council meeting Nov. 24, by reading about it in the paper.

The ordinance proposes eliminating the annual fire service fee for those living outside the corporate city limits and instead increasing the charge per call. Raising the fee also was discussed during the City Council meeting. City councilors will vote on the ordinance’s second reading at their Dec. 8 meeting.

Hesser said it is hard to inform concerned rural residents about it when she hasn’t been briefed herself.

“We are all very concerned about what happens in the rural area to our people,” she said during the meeting. “We’re going to try to keep on top of it.”

She said communication between the two governmental bodies is the important in handling the rural fire service changes.

“It would just be nice for us to work together,” she said.

Mayor Roger McMillian said the two bodies try to keep up communication.

“We try (to communicate) as best we can when it affects them,” he said. “We try to be aware of what the other is doing.”

Additionally, Hesser said she was assured fire service would still be offered to people outside city limits.

Also during the meeting, commissioners renewed agreements with the engineering company Holloway, Updike and Bellen Inc. for county bridge inspections.

Commissioner Jim Arthur said District 3 received grant money to purchase a used wood chipper, which he said seems brand new.

“So we’re ready for another ice storm,” he said of his district.

The next County Commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday in the County Administration Building, 315 W. Sixth.

        

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