Citing staffing issues and delays in response times, the Missoula Firefighters Union is asking the city to place a levy on the November ballot to fund the department's needs.
Tavis Campbell writes, "Mike understands that city growth, coupled with city policy, have burdened the Fire Department to a point where the department can no longer effectively manage operations."
Richard Meisinger writes, "Need to spend $4 million on a park rather than build another fire station and hire the people to staff it. Cost for this endeavor could be the life of one of your citizens."
Voters in Missoula this November will consider a request by the fire department to levy up to 40 mills to fund a new fire company, a new station, the Mobile Support Team, equipment and costs over time.
The Missoula Fire Department is looking to put a levy on the November ballot that would help them fund everything from new firefighters to building a new fire station.
Call volumes have nearly doubled over the last 15 years for the Missoula Fire Department, but its staffing levels haven't increased. And despite persistent requests to buy land for a new station in the booming Mullan area – and to fix a broken elevator at another station – the requests remain unfunded.
The Missoula Fire Department responded twice this week to calls of an individual camping on an island in the Clark Fork River as the waters began to rise.