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Talent readies for shift to paid fire protection By WENDY SIPOREN TALENT -- After a tumultuous two years during which the fire chief resigned and a ballot measure failed, Talent residents can look forward to stable fire protection service when they officially join Fire District 5 on July 1. "Probably the rural and the city fire departments should have put something together 30 years ago," said Fire District 5 Chief Dan Marshall. Talent has contracted with Fire District 5 for fire and emergency medical protection since October 1997, after chief Jim Flynn resigned amid unproven allegations of alcohol abuse. After a failed attempt to fully fund a city fire department in May 1998, voters approved the annexation with Fire District 5 last November. The department's two remaining employees and four of the city's volunteer firefighters have been working with the district since then. The city's station behind City Hall was mothballed early this year. While service won't change July 1, the status change means increased property taxes for city residents of $3.19 per $1,000 of assessed property value. At least one city official says it's a price worth paying. "They're getting around-the-clock protection -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year -- for less than $1 per day," said council member Don Steyskal. "I think that's a pretty good deal myself." Marshall says he's committed to improving service and giving customers a tax break when possible. He's an advocate of consolidation and is talking with the city of Phoenix about the possibility of creating a south Jackson County district in the future. In addition to gaining two city employees, the district purchased a 1988 Ford rescue vehicle from the city and was given use of some additional vehicle extraction equipment. The remaining fire department equipment will be sold in July. Still left to be decided is what to do with the soon-to-be-empty fire station. City Administrator Leahnette York said several options are under consideration, including using it for an expansion of City Hall, the library, a teen center, a community multipurpose center or a new space for the Talent Historical Society. Longtime city volunteer firefighter Joanne Baker says she's saddened by the end of the mainly volunteer fire department. Baker and her husband, Larry, contributed 33 years in all to the department and three of their sons volunteered as well. "They're (Fire District 5) a paid department. They're doing their job," she said. "I'm sure they do their job well. (But) we were hometown people taking care of their hometown." Comforting neighbors during time of loss was possible when you knew everyone in town, she said. "To me that was what made our department more personal." About a half-dozen city volunteers with strong loyalty to the city decided not to join Fire District 5. Some joined the Phoenix Fire Department. "They wanted to maintain their own identity," explained Devin Hull, who spent 10 years with the fire department before joining Fire District 5. Marshall says he and his crew are looking forward to developing a closer relationship with the city of Talent through school education programs, a business fire inspection program, working with the planning department and participating in community activities. "Even though we cover a large area we look forward to having a city to hang our hat on," he said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA