Annexation a win-win for Medical Lake, Spokane Fire District 3

After working for Spokane County Fire District #3 from 1981-2016, I believe the annexing of the two departments together is a positive move for the citizens of both entities. It would fiscally impossible for the city of Medical Lake to provide the equal resources that Fire District 3 can offer to the city due to its size and assets.

Medical Lake offers a population base to recruit volunteers from as well as a group of highly trained and dedicated volunteers and some firefighting equipment/facilities. Finding volunteers today is increasingly challenging for many reasons. Competing For them makes less sense as there is economy in scale.

Since its inception in 1945, Fire District 3 has never run a bond issue to indebt the property owners of the district into the future. The district has periodically run a special levy or a lid lift to restore it tax rate, but have been very respectful of the citizenry for them to state their support or non-support for immediate know benefits.

Fire District 3 is very fiscally responsible and lives within its means while providing quality, timely and affordable fire protection and emergency medical services to the taxpayers and citizens. The culture of the city of Medical Lake and the Fire District is very well matched. Fire District 3 respects the rural lifestyle and the communities that support it while recognizing they are an urban neighbor to a big city.

I would encourage both the voters of the city of Medical Lake and Spokane County Fire District 3 to vote to support of the annexation on Aug. 6, 2019.

Kelly Jennings

Boise, Idaho