Published: October 27, 2009 04:13 pm      

Proposal for ESD No. 7 on ballot

Phil Riddle

editor@weatherforddemocrat.com

While the bulk of the Nov. 3 Election Day ballot consists of statewide constitutional amendments, a proposition for the creation of Parker County Emergency Services District No. 7 is going before voters.

According to the Texas Department of Rural Affairs, ESDs are political subdivisions set up and approved by local voters for the purpose of raising money through ad valorem taxes. The taxes support emergency fire, rescue and ambulance services within the district.

The proposed ESD would protect the Greenwood area of western Parker County.

Shawn Scott, Parker County Fire Marshal, says an ESD provides emergency services, as well as equity for residents.

“Say you’re a big contributor to your volunteer fire department,” he said, “but your neighbor doesn’t give anything. You both still get the same quality of service. With an ESD, everybody pays their fair share.”

Scott said the districts run a little differently than most governmental entities, in that they have a single purpose.

“They don’t have to take care of roads or parks,” he said. They are focused on emergency services.”

There are currently three ESDs providing funding for services within the county: No. 1 in the northern portion of the county, No. 3 in the Hudson Oaks area, and No. 6 in the Tin Top area.

Scott said service improved in each area an ESD has been approved.

“There has been a substantial impact in each of the areas where an ESD has been formed,” Scott said. “We’ve seen lowered insurance rates, as well as reduced response times.”

Scott said funding for fire departments through Emergency Services Districts 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 sometimes sporadic donations. “Through an ESD, they can guarantee a funding stream.”

John Burgoyne, chief of the Greenwood Rural Volunteer Fire Department, called the formation of ESD No. 7 “absolutely necessary.”

“We have been a department here since 1966,” Burgoyne said. “We’ve been pretty successful, but its getting to a point where we’re having trouble providing the level of service we need to provide.”

Burgoyne said most of the volunteers on the department work in the Metroplex, leaving the county in the care of a skeleton crew during most work days.

“What we hope to do if the ESD is approved is hire off-duty career firefighters for 10- or 12-hour shifts during the day,” Burgoyne said. “That’s our primary motivation behind this.”

County commissioners appoint boards to administer ESDs.

Early voting continues through Friday.