Ord Talk

An Explanation of all that Building a new Fire Station Entails

At the Thursday night Open Meeting/Town Hall type forum Keith Shellhase explained the need for a new fire station. He detailed the funding for the station (a Bond along with possible Stimulus money), the advantages of having a new station and took ordtalk.com on a tour of the old station. To say the least, I have been somewhat skeptical of all Bond Issues but I was convinced. This is an area where there can be no disagreement, we are all affected by fire and rescue and these folks put their life on the line for us every time that whistle blows. The videos of the meeting pretty much tell the story, it was as transparent an open meeting as I have ever attended, no attempt to gloss over the dirty parts or make the positive parts shine, just straight forward information the way it should be.

One of the differences between this bond and say the hospital or school bond is that it does not require a vote of the people to pass. Due to Homeland Security regulations the fire district can pass a bond as long as the safety of the population is at stake. Could it have gone to a public vote, yes. Was it necessary for a public vote? After hearing all of the information, not in my opinion, and I'm about as jaded as they come. Here are some of the things learned from last nights meeting, its all on the video, but these points need to stand alone:

None of the trucks or equipment was paid for with taxpayer dollars. Donations, memorials and fundraisers keep our fire department on its wheels.

The land the new hall will occupy was purchased for $50,000.00 and is already paid for, again without the use of taxpayer money.

Because Ord has three (3) pumper trucks, the cost of your home insurance is less than if we only had two. One of the pumpers is a 1952 Ford, but it still counts. According to Keith, the extra cost of insurance for your home if this third truck did not exist would be more the what the bond issue taxes will be.

While homeland security authorizes up to a 10 cent levy on the tax bill, the fire district is building for half of that, only a 5 cent levy. They are not sacrificing safety or needs but they are not intent upon building a palace with all the bells and whistles (pun intended!)

Watch the videos of the meeting, look at the floor plan, building schedule and the artists drawings. Understand that these men have over 300 square miles to take care of and that if anything we owe them this and more. Its your house, your store or your haypile, someday it might catch fire or you will need a firetruck or ambulance and this is the tool they need to see you get it.

Steffan Baker

Ord Rural Fire Protection District #2 PRELIMINARY TIME-TABLE CONCEPT

June 4, 2009

May 28, 2009 Finalize Preliminary Plans, Finishes, Etc.

June 23, 2009 Design/Build Agreement with Chief Construction Start Final Construction Plans Order Metal Building

August 3, 2009 Final Plans Complete Submit for Building Permits Order Structural Steel Start Excavation / Compaction

August 10, 2009 Building Permit Received Start Footings / Foundations

August 24, 2009 Steel Building Delivery Start Steel Erection

November 2, 2009 Start Masonry Start Exterior Paving

March 1, 2010 Building Substantial Complete

**based on mild winter

Click here to see the floor plan and external views of the building.

Ord Rural Fire District
Valuation Without Ethanol Plant				$200,000,000
Approximate Size of Bond Issue				$1,500,000
Estimated Levy Needed To Pay 20 Years				$0.0581
Actual Value	Assessed Value	Cents Levy	Tax Per Year	Tax Per Month
$25,000	$250	$0.0581	$14.53	$1.21
$50,000	$500	$0.0581	$29.05	$2.42
$75,000	$750	$0.0581	$43.58	$3.63
$100,000	$1,000	$0.0581	$58.10	$4.84
$125,000	$1,250	$0.0581	$72.63	$6.05
$150,000	$1,500	$0.0581	$87.15	$7.26
$175,000	$1,750	$0.0581	$101.68	$8.47
$200,000	$2,000	$0.0581	$116.20	$9.68
$250,000	$2,500	$0.0581	$145.25	$12.10
$300,000	$3,000	$0.0581	$174.30	$14.53
$350,000	$3,500	$0.0581	$203.35	$16.95
$400,000	$4,000	$0.0581	$232.40	$19.37
$450,000	$4,500	$0.0581	$261.45	$21.79
$500,000	$5,000	$0.0581	$290.50	$24.21
$600,000	$6,000	$0.0581	$348.60	$29.05
$700,000	$7,000	$0.0581	$406.70	$33.89
$800,000	$8,000	$0.0581	$464.80	$38.73
$900,000	$9,000	$0.0581	$522.90	$43.58
$1,000,000	$10,000	$0.0581	$581.00	$48.42