Comments on: El Dorado Hills fire station to be torn down and rebuilt

By: glen taylor

glen taylor — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 07:48:18 +0000

Hey Rob Cima,

I am pretty sure the last time we spoke you were treating a facial burn from a beer bottle full of gas which detonated in my face….oh…. by the way thanks for that!! I just wanted to get in contact with Randy & Rick either send me an e mail at gat1067@hotmail.com or give me a call at 530-644-4059 I would be highly appreciative…thanks brother!

By: Mike Roberts

Mike Roberts — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:23:25 +0000

Continued:
If you are going to reference the Grand Jury report, please be aware of EDH Fire’s response: http://wp.me/p23AZn-pGn.

Yes, the new firehouse has room for an ambulance. That’s all. It’s just an extra spot.

The volunteers in EDH and everywhere are amazing and will go straight to heaven when they die.

The unions exist to serve their members, and have done an extrordinary job in recent years.. too good in fact, according to some.
But in EDH, a weird thing happened… the lastest administration started working with the union leadership and the results have been good. They do the budget, the MOU (union contract) and other planning stuff together. Critics say the union is just trying to keep everything they’ve alreadyt won, but hey, so far, its working for everyone.

EDH Station 84 is a wreck. It wasn’t built to be what it has become. Read the story. Tearing it down and building something that will last forever is probably a good idea.

And the money is there. It’s called a Capital Reserve, and by law it can’t be used for other stuff… like the Sheriff’s Dept.

If EDH were a city, that might not be true, but the EDHFD is a CA Special District, so that board reports essentially to no one, or everyone. EDH residents can vote the board out if they don’t like what’s going on.

And no, they’re not accepting applications. Working for the most affluent fire district in the state, if not the country is a plum job. Very few every leave, and when they do, it’s usually to retire before their hair is grey.
For that reason, and others, they are very very good. Evidence the few recent hires.

I spend time with these people, watched them work, and they are good. You can say they have played the naive local reporter, but I ain’t that naive and have written things about them they absolutly hate: all about their salaries, benefits, lawsuits and reserve accounts, spawning a few fire board candidacies along the way.

If you are still reading, thanks again for reading and supporting both the Mountain Democrat and the El Dorado Hills Village Life.

By: Mike Roberts

Mike Roberts — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:09:46 +0000

Hey, thanks for reading the MD, and for being engaged. This stuff can be complicated, so… just to clarify a few misconceptions:
EDH Fire has consistently backed, endorsed and proposed consolidation of and with local fire agencies. Their proposals have been rejected. Efficiencies aside, the rural communities in the county want their own fire departments.
Yes, EDH Fire gets a larger than normal slice of the post prop-13 property tax pie… because they were also a water agency with the pie was sliced. They get 17.5% on avg. The median in the county is 13%, with many rural agancies well under that. All this is explained in a fascinating three-part series:
http://wp.me/p23AZn-ekr
http://wp.me/p23AZn-ekw
http://wp.me/p23AZn-ekF
Another huge reason EDHFD is flush is they established a development fee b/4 the housing explosion.
To be continued….

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:35:28 +0000

What a good use of money. Tear down a perfectly good building and build another building in its place. Has anyone ever been in the Sheriff’s Office? The place is a dump and those guys make do with it while the EDH Fire gets to live high on their horse. If anything, build a new Sheriff’s Office. They do way more than EDH Fire will ever do.

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:26:01 +0000

Sue: Thanks. I shudda known. Next Q: Where does one find info regarding the “format for the association investing in Real Estate”? ‘Cause this is Greek to me.

By: Sue Taylor

Sue Taylor — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 21:42:23 +0000

Evelyn – D.S…. Diamond Springs

By: Karl

Karl — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:07:06 +0000

Don’t blame EDH-FD for being able to keep their books in order. Just because the County has Major Money issues w/ County Fire, doesn’t make it EDH-FD fault. Maybe the County FD ought to sit down and learn from EDH-FD. Kudos go out to EDH-FD for a job well done. Continue the good work !!

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:46:03 +0000

James: What is the “D.S. format”?

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:44:07 +0000

James / I must have joined… : Having looked at the GJ report only one thing is clear (to me): The El Dorado Hills Fire Dept. is financially blessed compared to other fire depts. It was interesting to note that in official documents it is the “El Dorado Hills County Water District”. But apart from the GJ Report, one can’t help but wonder at the need for the Stations’ replacement, particularly in today’s economic climate. Let me guess: Someone has an (unstated) Agenda; and, Someone is going to make some money.

By: James Smith

James Smith — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 04:38:18 +0000

EDH is starting to follow the D.S. format for the association investing in Real Estate.

By: I must have joined the wrong profession

I must have joined the wrong profession — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:33:08 +0000

Dont Hate appreciate,

I dont hate at all.I respect them more than you know! I dont like the math or how thing dont add up. Reasons for bulding new station need to be accurate and truthful. El Dorado Hills will not get another medic unit anytime in the next 5-10 years or longer. This station 84 also only has ONE staffed engine at a time. That means 3 people leaving there per shift.

I would also be interested in seeing how you go from $900K deficit to having 4 Million two years later to build a new station.

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:16:15 +0000

James: I know nothing about the particular Fireman’s Association you are referencing. But following your clarification I had a quick look and discover that throughout the country there are many Fireman’s Associations registered as tax-exempt non-profits.

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:10:53 +0000

PS. Those “volunteer” organizations commonly now are tax-exempt and at least partially government (taxpayer) funded. Those “volunteers” are NOT poor, unemployed sods simply working for a worthy cause. And, yes, many have oodles of (our) money tucked safely away. You happen to have touched on a subject I been looking at intensively recently. Many have publicly unstated agendas. Time for them to open up!!!

By: James Smith

James Smith — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:09:53 +0000

Evelyn – Sorry, I typed the wrong word – not volunteer. It’s actually the Fireman’s Association has a lot of money off the books.

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:05:13 +0000

Ah ….. James, those “volunteer” organizations!!! Much to my chagrin I’m learning that those “volunteer” organizations are not always what they’re cracked up to be. Commonly they’re comprised of individuals employed by and sent by vested (undisclosed) interests. They are not DONATING their time. Their time is well compensated. I haven’t been able yet to give proper attention to the GJ report, but I do know what you mean about that which is not disclosed at all. What we don’t know is killing us, and mostly we don’t even KNOW that we don’t know. Ignorance is a most wondrous tool. I promise to look at the GJ Report. Probably tonight or tomorrow.

By: James Smith

James Smith — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:54:37 +0000

Evelyn – Think not about what is in the Grand Jury report but what is not. Think about Volunteer Associations awash in money and investing in strange things.

By: don't hate, appreciate!

don't hate, appreciate! — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:00:27 +0000

How can calling a 20′x30′ workout room and a kitchen actually big enough to accommodate 3-6 adults living there 24-7 be called excessive? Are we forgetting the purpose of what these brave men & women do everyday? I don’t know about you but I am glad they are there and would hope that in a time of crisis (like a fire) that our EDH fire dept would be in top form. I sure don’t want to be the one fighting fires, but I’m sure they are accepting applications if you think they’ve got it so good and are “being overpaid”. EDH is the fastest growing city/town in all of El Dorado County, it makes sense that they’d need multiple stations.

By: I must have joined the wrong profession

I must have joined the wrong profession — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:28:55 +0000

Evelyn- I would start by looking at 30-32 which talks about a $900+ dollar short fall in 2010 and 2011.

I would also like to take aim at the reasoning for this NEW station. I can understand electrical and all that but the reasoning of a new ambulance is bogus. Heres why:

Medic 26- Closed begining of 2013 for a $600k dollar short fall
Medic 49- Closed 5+ years ago for budget concerns/ bad economy
Medic 17- Pollock Pines
Medic 19- Pleseant Valley
Medic 25- Placerville- busiest medic by far
Medic 28- Shingle Spings- partially funded by Red Hawk Casino
Medic 61- Georgetown
Medic 85- El Dorado Hills- Do they need two when other area have none?
Medic 89- Cameron Park aka Cal Fire

Just my two cents

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:02:53 +0000

James Smith: Which part of the 30-page Grand Jury Report should we focus on? (I’m operating in lazy mode, and would appreciate being pointed in the right direction.)

By: James Smith

James Smith — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:42:48 +0000

http://www.scribd.com/doc/59180088/El-Dorado-Hills-Grand-Jury-Report-El-Dorado-Hills-Fire-District-2011

By: I must have joined the wrong profession.

I must have joined the wrong profession. — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:20:14 +0000

Sounds like the whole county should become ONE fire district. If EL Dorado Hills fire has this much money to build a new station, over pay their firefighter, etc. Sounds like they have a large portion of the county tax base.

Please look at Grand Jury investigations. WAY OVER PAID!!MOre than County fire fighters.

By: The other fire dept

The other fire dept — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:27:58 +0000

Maybe EDH Fire can teach the Hill Billy’s up the freeway a couple lessons on finance. Congrats to you for being smart with your money and being able to afford a new fire station.