Published: November 04, 2009 08:24 am      

ESD No. 7 wins approval

Phil Riddle

editor@weatherforddemocrat.com

Voters overwhelmingly supported the formation of Emergency Services District No. 7 Tuesday.

Out of 229 votes cast, 171 ballots, nearly 75 percent, were marked in favor of the new ESD.

The ESD is a political subdivision set up to raise money through ad velorem taxes to support fire, rescue and ambulance services within the district.

Parker County Fire Marshal Shawn Scott, out of town for Tuesday’s voting, said in an earlier interview, funding through an ESD makes for easier equipping of rural fire departments.

“The ESD gives volunteer fire departments funding they can bank on,” he said, adding buying expensive firefighting or rescue equipment through traditional channels is difficult when counting on often sporadic donations.

“Through an ESD, they can guarantee a funding stream.”

According to John Burgoyne, Chief of the Greenwood Rurl Volunteer Fire Department, The formation of the Emergency Services District will allow the department to hire off-duty career firefighters to man the area during workdays when volunteers are busy working away from the firehouse.

Additional hoped-for benefits from the formation of the district, according to both Scott and Burgoyne, are shorter response times for emergency calls, and reduced home insurance rates through improved ISO ratings.