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The Viral Vent: Comments
Hunter, Your point is well taken. However, I did not see the letter in the same light as you. I do not see the volunteers of the Ord Rural Fire District as the same as the insane money grabbing power throttling small town gangsters, that we have seen in the recent past. The volunteers of the Ord Rural Fire District are unselfishly serving their friends and neighbors...meaning us. The money goes for ongoing training, equipment, etc. for the volunteers to achieve their mission statement.
I am confused.
So the two million fire hall building has nothing to do with the fire district.
the city, county, whatever, stand there like the monopoly guy with turned out pockets.
Meanwhile, three different construction projects carry on in a parallel reality where money is snatched out of the distant future to pay the jig dancing bankers and bond men.
County supervisors meet fervently in hopes that the Great And Promised Genie To Be will suddenly appear and chase away the specter of the mysterious 25 year bond payout plan.
I'll bet the county paid more than twenty grand for the audit this month.
hunter4766, not all taxes are bad, and not all that spend the tax money are thieves. The fire hall for the rural fire district is/was in my opinion a very worthwhile investment. However, I believe the Ord Dome (gym) was not. Upgrading the school to current safety standards...yes. The hospital...no, as I am sure we will shortly see how this one's going to play out. We will just have to agree to disagree on this one.
It was folly to build a 2 million dollar fire hall. A million should have been more than sufficient.
Which elected representative sat in on the sales talk?
Which elected representatives sat down among themselves and said, we should buy this, but not this, etc.
Why weren't the cops and fire hall combined into one building?
Undoubtedly a new police station is next.
The $20k accidental missed tax should be chalked up as a cost over run, a mere 1% of the total building cost, a mere .05% of the total tax slammed on the county in the past two years.
If the county has to beg for .05%, how are they paying for the 99.95%?
hunter4766, The Ord Rural Fire District is a completely separate entity, or body from the City of Ord. The City of Ord Police Department would not be and should not be part of the Ord Rural Fire District. The governing body for the City of Ord has nothing to say or do with how the Ord Rural Fire District functions (thank goodness). The governing body for the Ord Rural Fire District is elected within the volunteer organization with their funding permitted by statute by levies within the district. I have no doubt that if a person desires to express their concerns over the tax levies for the Ord Rural Fire District, the governing body for the district would be available and attentive to your concerns. The governing body for Valley County(County Board Members) has turned a deaf ear to the $21,500 shortfall and has in a few short words said this is the ORFD's problem. Even though the ORFD is the shortfall victim of someone else's omission.
I need to be more definitive on the election process for the governing body for the Ord Rural Fire District, as it is not only the volunteers that vote for the members of the board, but also the public may vote for the members, those that attend the meetings for that purpose. That would be the time to voice your individual support for those that share your thoughts.
Also I am told that there is no "roll" or "list" to be distributed of those who chose to voluntarily pay what would have been added to your tax statement. There is only a receipt from the county treasurer, acknowledging the payment, so that those funds are designated for the Ord Rural Fire Department fund and not any other fund. It's just a matter of book keeping.
The receipt states: Ord Rural Fire District 2 Bond one time receivable collected by (the person's name collecting the funds), omitted levy payment acknowledged to the Ord Rural Fire District.
Want to donate to the fire department without having to go through the "oh we screwed up mybad" tax process? Heres your chance to give your tax money directly and know that it actually got to where it was supposed to go. Just write a check to the fire department, I'm sure they will appreciate it either way, but at least this way it goes 100%.
I believe the bond for the new fire hall was 1.4 million not 2 million. The tax short fall was from the operating budget not from the fire hall bond. With all due respect I contend the ovfd does not overspend the newest pumper they have is a mid 90's followed by a mid70's followed by a mid 50's. In my opinion the fire board did not overspend they looked to the future and chose to provide this fire district with fire and ems protection for a long time to come.
Just like anything else in rural america it is getting harder and harder to fill a fire dept roster and I'm not saying that that is a reason to build a new building but it should help retain and recruit new members. If you havent toured the old fire hall you should do so. If you havent attended a fire board meating you should do so. Please come tour the new fire hall when it is finished I have done so it is my contention that they got a lot for the money spent. Could have it been built for less mayby does it complement ord yes. The members of ovfd dont ask for a lot. They serve this comunity out of a desire to help to make it a better place to live and because of them i sleep better at night. I think if you see a spouse or a family member of a member of ovfd you should thank them for what their family gives up to serve this district we are very lucky to have the members of ovfd and their families in this comunity. I paid the tax I should have paid before with pride with out a second thought. I will not think twice about the fire hall bond on my tax statement. I say thank you not only to the ovfd but all who do things to make me glad I live in rural nebraska
Here's another thought it is my understanding the tax screwup was around 21000. It is also my understanding that it was about a third of the department's operating budget, so simple math says the fire dept is running on 63,000 a year. Now think it through. Everything with for fire protection is expensive. What does a hose cost? What does a self containd breathing aparatus cost? What does a set of fire gear cost? then think about the ems side what does a defib machine cost? You don't soppose they have to update the equipment and supplies. Do you think the government has regulations in place for medical equimpent and supplies. Think it through the fire dept. has run very economicly in the past. I believe they will continue on the same path. I believe they have 40 some members watching the money like it was their own. I believe their is safty in numbers. What do you think would happen if someone wanted to spent the dept's money fooleshly? Simple answer they got shot down. In a perfect world we could do away with the fire protection tax. In our world we have a pretty good setup. I would say great protection at a decent price even after we put the payment for the new fire hall on top of their budget.
ovfdfan,
where I live now, the fire dept has pancake feeds and other function to raise money to help pay for need of the fire dept. the most important reason to have functions like this is to get the comunity in to take a look at what the volinteers do, and have the public ask questions. The feeds, dances and what ever else they put on in more of a PR function 1st and a money raiser 2nd. It also helps in finding new volinteers. I have had the fire dept. to my place twice, as my wife who likes to burn had the fire get away twice. I am happy to support them, they do a fine job. Those that complain about the vfd, I hope never need ems to come to thier place.
Perhaps the bank account for the fire budget would be better had not the firemen contacted attorney egr to fight the county. An easy grand there I'd bet.
Recent posters here labor under the delusion that money yanked out of the future, much of which is then stuffed into the hands of bankers and bond men, this future money, future debt, is not real, and somehow separate from a current budget.
so nice to know that the building could have been built for less, but that it is a nice complement to the city. Just another confirmation that the supervisors, who have added fifty million in taxes over one year, are not careful with the money. If the city/county has money to blow on nice buildings, not functional buildings, why can't they cough up 21k? Have you asked your county supervisor for a copy of the 25 year plan?
hunter4766, What does Valley County's 25 year plan have to do with the ORFD? The recent posters that you speak of, realize the Valley County supervisors and their budget have nothing to do with the ORFD, or their budget.
rock
some people you can not get them to understand anything.
the fire dept, does not work for profit.
Unlike the VCHS which is suppose to make a profit and support its self, the fire dept uses taxes and donations to servive. I also beleave the labor is free. I sure hope that hunter never needs help from the fire dept. Maybe they will take thier time if called by him or her or it.
have a nice day rock
The fire hall bond was 1.4 million.
The cost of the fire hall bond is 1.8 million after interest. call it an even two after cost over runs.
ovfdfan was either hoodwinked over this fine print point on interest, or is a hoodwinker, probably the former.
the money for both the fire hall and the RFD budget comes from the county
the county is unable, not unwilling, they are unable to find 21k to fund the fire department.
Meanwhile, the public is led to believe that the county is paying off with ease the fifty million debt.
Since the county cannot maneuver out of a 21k problem, then the county will be unable to maneuver out of a 500k over run on any of their three current projects. (interest on a 5 percent loan to cover a 500k over run is 25k per year).
500k is one percent of the current debt load of fifty million.
It appears that the county cannot afford a one percent miscalculation.
The school building project will be cost over run.
The hospital is supposed to build itself on medicare payments.
The man who sold the supervisors on the 'free hospital' deal 'resigned' 'effective immediately'.
The supervisors are unwilling, or unable to produce the 25 year bond payment plan, which they were supposedly given by this man they just fired.
half of hospital bond payments are based on Medicare reimbursement for depreciation.
Year 25 of the bond has zero medicare bucks for depreciation.
Add 750000 to the county taxes for year 25, and count backwards.
The county is unable to find 21k now, how will they find 750 k later?
The county DID send a letter indicating that names of those who donate will be forwarded to the RFD. Apparently at least one other person, tincan, has noted how names not on that list translate into poor treatment.
hunter4766, I will not disagree with you, that Valley County is carrying an extreme debt load or that we were sold a bill of goods on the hospital fiasco. All of your points address the zero Medicare bucks for depreciation and the like are notable. However, the ORFD is not in the same light as the hospital, nor do I believe it is fair to compare the two. To be a volunteer as in the case of the ORFD, these people must first have an unselfish, giving, and kind heart that translates into a desire to serve others. Whether it's 1.4 million or 1.8 million after interest or 2 million after costs over runs, to me it is not the issue. To me, the issue is giving the volunteers all the available equipment, training, etc. they need to unselfishly serve others, which to me is priceless. When the call goes out that one of our friends or neighbors needs help because their home is on fire, that someone is having chest pains or there has been an accident, I want to know that help is on the way and that help is not hindered by lack of funds.
During my time in the service of my country, I had the privilege of serving with a group of men whose motto was/is "THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE". I see our ORFD volunteers in that same light. With these kind people it does not translate into poor treatment of those names that do not appear on a nonexistent list.
Hunter'
Maybe you can not read. I said nothing about a list of names that donate. I was talking about YOU. You want to bad mouth everything that is taxed. I agree about the VCHS and the school. Just about all of that is BS. The fire dept is maned by volunteers and never is a profit organization. The old station was out grown when I was in high school in Ord. As far as I am concerned, it was long over due. I have stated my points on the high school and VCHS in the past. I will not go into it again. Just remember, the volunteers ask for nothing when they go out and help anyone at any time or place in the county. It is hard dangerious work. I hope you do donate to the fire dept. and even if you don't I know that these volunteers will still come to your place in case of an emgerency, that is what they do.
Which elected officials sat in on the meetings to build the fire hall, and helped say we want this, or we do not want that.
Which elected county officials gave the OK to hire Attorney Egr to fight the county.
Were the fees for Attorney Egr waived, if not, how much were they.
If the county budget has nothing to do with the RFD budget, from where did the payment come?
How does the county justify paying a new staffer for the development taxation office when they can not cough up 21k for the fire dept?
Ord government finances in 2006:
Charges - All Other: $141,000
Parks and Recreation: $23,000
Construction - Regular Highways: $747,000
Current Operations - Electric Utilities: $1,885,000
Regular Highways: $237,000
Central Staff Services: $199,000
Police Protection: $190,000
General - Other: $175,000
Financial Administration: $153,000
Water Utilities: $146,000
Local Fire Protection: $127,000
Parks and Recreation: $106,000
Housing and Community Development: $97,000
Solid Waste Management: $61,000
General Public Buildings: $31,000
Read more: Ord-Nebraska.html
Outstanding info.
I knew there was a racket whereby certain county officials are shaken down for police protection.
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The City of Ord doesn't have anything to do with the Ord Rural Fire Dept so certain self-serving persons on the city board can't steal your tax money or allow others to steal it too. You can rest comfortably knowing your money is going to be spent by ORFD honest volunteer people.