Mid America Live sat down with Butler city Administrator Corey Snead and Fire Chief Jason Bennett to get the inside scoop regarding a proposed 1/2 cent tax increase on the April ballot which if passed, would help offset surging fire department operation costs
"First, I know putting this on the ballot isn't an easy decision" Snead voiced "it's something we desperately need not only regarding the safety of our firefighters, but the entire community as well."
His sentiments were echoed throughout our conversation however, reality is what it is- the Butler fire department ran over 500 calls last year and likely will be more in '25 as the trend has been a 5 to 10 percent increase each year. This means overall operating costs could easily double in the next decade if not sooner as prices for fuel, insurance and other are bound to go up as well.
Chief Bennett pointed out that besides the number of calls for fires and accidents going up, there is an ever growing number of calls for medical related issues, such as lift assists. Out of the calls last year, nearly 200 were medically related in the form of assistance to ambulance services, with a good percentage of those outside Butler city limits.
"We would never turn down anybody who needs help" said Bennett "But it simply means we are more busy, and that simply costs more." Years back, the department might run 1 to 2 calls a week but now, it's more like 10-15 average and aging equipment adds to the mix.
The Butler tanker truck, for example, is 35 years old and is a converted milk hauler that only holds about 1,000 gallons, among other limitations. Having a truck that could transport 2,000 gallons or more would be of great benefit, as now larger tankers are summoned from Adrian and Rich Hill on a fairly regular basis.
Both Snead and Bennett pointed out that insurance rates could potentially go down for residents if the Butler fire department can make improvements as the current ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating is 5 to 6, and a lower rating should be of great benefit as insurance carriers use the ISO numbers to set premiums.
"And we need to hire at least one qualified person to help with daytime calls and duties" added Bennett as he explained that even as Butler is a paid volunteer department, most firefighters are at work during the day leaving him and Captain Jason Wix to run calls as mentioned previously but add to that, standby any time a medical helicopter lands at Bates County Memorial Hospital.
"Inspections too" said Bennett as he added to the list "We have a backlog of building inspections and it would help greatly to have one more person to help with that." Getting inspections caught up could be of benefit to the ISO rating as well.
Another need is newer turnout gear for fire personnel, as like mechanical equipment wears out, over time the material becomes ineffective in resisting heat, which can pose a danger to firefighters according to Chief Bennett. In some cases, it would be beneficial to have extra gear when calls come back to back, which they sometimes do.
As our conversation wound down, it was also noted that not only would those in the Butler fire protection district would pay the tax, but thousands each week who travel through Butler as well- which would help offset costs associated to responding to accidents and medical calls related to those who pass through our area.
The additional revenue from the tax would be about $300,000 yearly which as of now would "go a long way towards offsetting current expenses as well as better prepare us for the future" added Snead.
MILK TRUCK TANKER This 35 year old converted milk hauler serves as a water tanker for the Butler fire department and besides its age, capacity is only about 1,000 gallons whereas 2,500 or more would be quite beneficial especially when fighting fires in rural areas. The passage of the 1/2 cent sales tax in April (which amounts to an additional 37 cents per $100 spent) would include replacement of this truck which in turn would allow for greatly enhanced firefighting capability for Butler Fire and less reliance on neighboring departments.
