4/7/08-1

Lindon to use Orem fire dept. Print E-mail
Rette Speight - NORTH COUNTY STAFF

The question isn't about loyalty; it's about response time and Lindon tax dollars.
The Lindon City Council decided Tuesday evening to use Orem's fire department and dispatch in order to achieve full-time emergency services. Up until now, only part-time emergency services have been available.

"Orem has offered us a partnership, we're not just renters anymore," said council member Jerald Hatch. "It gives us as a city a better opportunity to prepare."

Lindon has been using Pleasant Grove's fire department for over 20 years, and although they have been very pleased with the service and response time, the council said that it really comes down to the raw taxpayer dollar.

"It's really hard to take the emotion out of this," said council member Toby Bath. "But all I really see in front of me is the dollar sign."

Even while emotions were supposed to be left out of the discussion, it was hard for the Lindon residents and the City Council to ignore the fact that many Lindon residents staffed on the Pleasant Grove fire department will have their hours cut, as they have been accustomed to providing service to the city for so long.

Weston Terry, a Lindon resident and a member of the Pleasant Grove fire department, said that he was raised with the opinion that "if it's not broke, don't fix it."

"We may not be the biggest fire department, but we're trained to be the best. This decision will definitely affect my job," he said.

To build a fire department for the city of Lindon would cost millions of dollars just for a dispatch center, Lindon Police Chief Cody Cullimore told the City Council at a public hearing Thursday night. Right now, the city just doesn't have that money and must chose a city to provide a dispatch center and other fire and emergency medical services.

Councilman Bruce Carpenter reminded those in attendance that even though the Pleasant Grove department has provided wonderful service, "You still have to remember that you can only get what you can afford," and choosing the more expensive option could possibly result in a tax raise for Lindon residents.

Orem will provide a full-time staff of 12 plus administration, dispatch services and loaned equipment including a fire truck and ambulance for $1.2 million.

Pleasant Grove's bid was higher, at $1.9 million but would include payments on a new fire truck and ambulance plus equipment. They would hire 12 new full-time Lindon residents to run the facility but would provide a dispatch center and administrative staff.

"The thing that matters is the people, not the provider," said Dave Lesser, a Lindon resident of Orem's Department of Public Safety. "Whoever can bring 24-hour coverage, so be it."

Orem currently has three fire stations, with one soon undergoing a remodel. The equipment and staff that would be at Station Two during remodeling will be shifted to a building located near the Lindon City Hall, therefore being able to provide a lower cost to Lindon since there would be benefit for Orem as well.

"No one voted very loud" said Lindsey Bayless, as the council finally voted with three for Orem, and two to continue service with Pleasant Grove.