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New fire service won't cost Dom a dime By JILL BRISKEY WHITE CITY - Officials at the Veterans Affairs Domiciliary won't have to pay a dime for fire protection if their own department is disbanded. But the change - which would increase the workload for Jackson County Fire District 3 substantially if the agency assumes responsibility for the Dom - isn't expected to affect local taxpayers. The Dom is on federally owned property inside Fire District 3's jurisdiction. The Dom does not pay property taxes and is afforded free protection from the district along with other government buildings and churches within the district. Spokesman Bill Petrocini said the Dom is considering disbanding its 10-member White City Veterans Affairs Fire Department to lighten its budget. Emergency services such as fire suppression and medical response would be turned over to Fire District 3. However, Petrocini said the Dom would most likely buy out those services - or pay for protection over the course of several years - from Fire District 3 if its own department is phased out. The buyout would compensate Fire District 3 personnel, allowing the agency to maintain the same level of service throughout the community while taking on responsibility for the Dom, said Chief Randy Iverson. Iverson said taxes - $2.69 per $1,000 of assessed property value in the fire district - won't increase if the district takes on emergency services at the Dom. He said the buyout would allow the district time to absorb the increased costs gradually. Petrocini said he cannot discuss possible buyout amounts because the entire issue is still being discussed. Last year, Petrocini said the Dom paid $550,000 to maintain its own fire department. The department, created in the late 1940s, handles fire suppression, medical responses and rescue operations. The crew also conducts safety inspections, fire drills and maintenance of fire suppression equipment such as sprinkler systems and fire alarms. Petrocini said the firefighters will not be let go if the department is disbanded. The additional services, which would not be picked up by Fire District 3, would be picked up by other agencies within the Dom. "If something occurs, we'll be carrying out the same services that we have now," Petrocini said. Dom officials estimate that Fire District 3 would be asked to respond to an estimated 200 service calls at the Dom annually. A decision is expected in late September or October. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.