UPDATE FROM THE MAYOR
I wanted to send out this update to address a couple of very important concerns facing our community. Please take the opportunity to review, and if you have questions, let me know and I’ll do my best to clarify.
Solar Farm Applications. There currently are two active solar farm applications being presented to Sedgwick County for Conditional Use applications. Both are located in the southwest part of Sedgwick County. I will provide each link to the applications so that you can clearly understand where the intended locations are and the background on each. I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to become informed and then provide your input to the county commissioners regarding your thoughts, for or against the projects.
Mission Clean Energy (Galena Project) is generally located between South Hoover to South 119th Street West and West 47th Street South to West 63rd Street South. Here is the link: https://www.wichita.gov/1969/Mission-Clean-Energy-Galena-Project. The initial meeting with the MAPC was held on April 29th. No action was taken with a follow up meeting to be scheduled.
Ted Renewable Energy (Branch Line Project) is generally located between West 71st Street South and West 87th Street South and between South 183rd Street West and South 151st Street West. Here is the link: https://www.wichita.gov/1968/Ted-Renewables-Branch-Line-Project. The meeting with MAPC is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th ,at 9 a.m., the Ronald Reagan Building, 3rd Floor Conference Room. The notice of that meeting can be found when you go to the link provided.
These links will provide detailed maps and information on each project.
You can attend the meeting on the 19th in person and have the opportunity to make personal statements. You can observe on-line, but cannot make statements. You may also reach out to Commissioner Jeff Blubaugh at Jeff.Blubaugh@sedgwick.gov.
Termination of Automatic and Mutual Aid Response Agreements with Various Cities. Sedgwick County Commissioners have notified Clearwater that current automatic and mutual aid response agreements with Sedgwick County Fire District #1 are being cancelled in 90 days. During this 90 days, the City will continue to receive the same responses as provided within the agreements. The City will be working with the county to determine what actions are necessary to understand what steps are next.
A mutual aid agreement allows for the county to “request” assistance from the city and the city to “request” assistance from the county. The requesting agency would indicate the support needed and the receiving agency would provide the support based on current capabilities. There is no cost associated with the service provided.
The automatic aid response agreement, was specifically for structure fires and within a specific boundary. That boundary included; (east) Tyler Road, (south) County Line, (north) 55th Street South, and (west) 215th Street West. Within this boundary, when an emergency notification (911 call) is received, both agencies automatically respond. If the situation does not require the additional resources, the SCFD #1 assets are called off. Keep in mind, this is for structure fires only.
Some background information.
- Sedgwick County established Fire District #1 in 1955.
- State statute establishes that in the event of a declared emergency, any agency would provide such support to other agencies as they could, upon request, and if available. This is NOT affected by the county’s actions.
- Clearwater entered into a mutual aid agreement with the Ninnescah Township in 1959 to provide Fire Service. By doing so, the Clearwater Fire and Ninnescah Township were never part of SDFD#1, and thus do not pay taxes for the fire district.
- As early as 1966, Sedgwick County and Clearwater Fire entered into a Mutual Aid agreement for fire services. Basically meaning, if either needed assistance and upon request, the other would provide resources, if they were available. The mutual aid agreements have been amended over the years with the current one being put into place in 1996.
- In 2011 SCFD#1 and the City entered into an Automatic Aid agreement for fire services that involved “structure” fire only.
- The 1996 mutual aid agreement and the 2011 Automatic Aid agreement are the two being cancelled.
If no new agreements are reached, Sedgwick County would no longer provide the City/Ninnescah Township boundary with support, unless in response to a declared disaster. As a governing body, we will work with the county and review all options and determine what is best for our community. Potential options are;
- Join SCFD#1 and pay the county tax. All fire support would be provided by SCFD#1. Would need to understand what that means for cost, availability, and responsiveness.
- Determine if future support would be “fee based”. We pay the county and the county pays the city for services rendered.
- Determine what changes would be necessary to provide self-sufficient fire services without aid.
I believe the County Commission is basing their action on basically two points; cost equity, in that Clearwater and some other communities do not pay the SCFD#1 tax, and they feel that is unfair. And, secondly, they are being advised by SCFD#1 that “some” of the rural departments are not sufficiently staffed, trained, and equipped. It currently costs our tax base about 7 mils per year and the latest estimate for being a part of SCFD#1 is 17 mils. As for leadership, staffing, training, and equipment, we feel Clearwater Emergency Service is extremely competent, well trained, and has excellent equipment and facilities. Within our boundaries, we do so much more than “structure” fires. We respond to all calls and we maintain EMS coverage the 7 days a week/12 hours a day the county does not.
The governing body will have this as a topic of discussion at our upcoming council meeting on Tuesday, May 12th.
Burt Ussery
Mayor