A strong and steadfast fire department is a necessity for the safety of any community. Thanks to Greeley voters approving the continuation of the .16% public safety tax last November, we are moving forward a few projects that will help our fire department continue to expand and meet the needs of our growing community. This includes a new fire station on the west side of town along with 15 more firefighters, a rebuild of station #2, and add more battalion chiefs. What does this mean for you?
- A New Fire Station #6: The tax renewal provides funds for the design and construction of a new fire station be in the Promontory area. This delivers needed coverage to the western side of our community and Highway 34, and also includes a Police substation. We will hire and train 15 additional firefighters to facilitate the new station’s opening in 2020.
- Re-build of Fire Station #2: Located at 23rd Ave and Reservoir Road, the aging Fire Station 2 was initially constructed in 1958. The tax funds gathered allows us to replace this station in the same location with a more suitable facility. The current station will remain open during the re-build, which includes an expanded facility to house an ambulance alongside our usual fire crew, and will provide more timely and efficient response to our community.
- Addition of a 2nd battalion chief to each shift: As our Fire Department grows in both personnel and geographic area, we have identified a need for a 2nd battalion chief per shift (3 total) to ensure safe operations and effective management during emergency operations. These new positions ensure a chief officer is on scene during critical incidents and expand our ability to manage complex emergency scenes.
After you, the community, stepped up and voted for these tax continuations, I feel that the plan we have in place to update and expand the Greeley Fire Department will continue to provide for the safety for our residents for generations to come. I’m humbled by the hard work done by those in the Greeley Fire Department and their tireless efforts to keep our community safe.