Such a pleasure it is to be working with amazing personnel including volunteer firefighters, part time firefighters, career firefighters, our District administration and fellow Fire Commissioners. We have accomplished a lot since 2005 when I came on board as a fire commissioner. We have built 2 new stations, been able to replace response equipment that we couldn’t get parts for any more, develop and implement response agreements with our neighboring Fire Districts and, we were able to lower our District Washington Survey and Rating Bureau (insurance) rating from an 8 to a 6. This, along with a Tender Credit, can provide insurance savings for the farmer/rancher, commercial business owner and homeowners.
Our Emergency Medical response for our citizens has improved with lower response times, all response personnel at EMT rating and many are at the Advanced EMT response certification.
With the current processes in place, we are able to keep our Policy Statements up to date. And, one of the things I particularly like, is the adding of a short range/long planning process tool that we review on a monthly basis. This allows the Board, Chief, and others to focus on one or more items at a time without over burdening the regular meetings. Some things will take years to accomplish and others get moved up due to changing needs and opportunities. This planning tool allows us to better better budget decisions based on safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of operations, thus using the tax dollars approved by our voters effectively. After all it’s the citizens of the Fire District that we are really trying to take care of, as that is who we all work for.
A Q&A with Commissioner Wells:
Question: What is your background?
Answer: Well, I have to say that so far it has been a full ride. Started out as a volunteer fire fighter in Spokane Co. Fire Dist. 9 serving at the Country Homes Fire Station located at Division and Hawthorne RD., an then going through the ranks becoming a volunteer Battalion Chief and served in that position from 1975-1980.
In 1967 I went to work for Whitworth Water Dist and due to pay systems also went to work for Spokane Co. Fire Dist 9, all the while going to college. Some would say the jobs were a combination of firewater. While at Whitworth, the District grew from 600 to 3800 accounts. They promoted me to Water Superintendent in 1972 and I remained so through 1977. We did a lot of work bringing systems up to standard and went through quite a building boom. I was fortunate to have a great crew to work with.
While there I received a Water Manager #2 certification.
I left the Water District to stay in the fire business. Many changes were starting to occur. It was nice to be a part of those changes through 1999. Two additional building booms and hiring additional personnel became the norm. My responsibilities included creating and developing a District-wide training system, developing fire operations systems and gettng a Fire Prevention Division in place. We had a lot of really great people in the Department and it was a pleasure to work with them. I served as a Deputy Chief from 1984-1999, while also serving on a WA State interagency command team as a type II All Risk Logistics Chief and then retired. Kind of.
I have been private business consulting for 15+ years.
Question: Where do you live in the Fire District?
Answer: I have owned property on Deer Lake since 1975. After figuring out how to keep the pipes from freezing and the road open (hasn’t that been a task for us) in the winter I made it my home in April 2004.
How long have you served as a fire commissioner?
Answer: I was selected to replace an outgoing commissioner in April 2005 so 18 +years. Yes, I am on the November ballot for an additional term. We have accomplished much but there is still more to do. It’s fun to be a part of the process. My fellow commissioners the District Chiefs, administrative personnel and the fire crews have been great to work with.
What experience do you bring to the Board of Fire Commissioners?Answer: Being in top management for so long you learn a lot about how to avoid messes and solve problems at the local level before they occur. Budgeting and planning are a huge part and being a “systems guy”, it is easy to relate to needs and more importantly figure out ways to solve them efficiently, cost effectively and safely.
Fire Danger: LOW 🔥 Burn Bans have been lifted (Oct. 25). Campfires allowed. NO burning of debris in UGAs.
Such a pleasure it is to be working with amazing personnel including volunteer firefighters, part time firefighters, career firefighters, our District administration and fellow Fire Commissioners. We have accomplished a lot since 2005 when I came on board as a fire commissioner. We have built 2 new stations, been able to replace response equipment that we couldn’t get parts for any more, develop and implement response agreements with our neighboring Fire Districts and, we were able to lower our District Washington Survey and Rating Bureau (insurance) rating from an 8 to a 6. This, along with a Tender Credit, can provide insurance savings for the farmer/rancher, commercial business owner and homeowners.
Our Emergency Medical response for our citizens has improved with lower response times, all response personnel at EMT rating and many are at the Advanced EMT response certification.
With the current processes in place, we are able to keep our Policy Statements up to date. And, one of the things I particularly like, is the adding of a short range/long planning process tool that we review on a monthly basis. This allows the Board, Chief, and others to focus on one or more items at a time without over burdening the regular meetings. Some things will take years to accomplish and others get moved up due to changing needs and opportunities. This planning tool allows us to better better budget decisions based on safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of operations, thus using the tax dollars approved by our voters effectively. After all it’s the citizens of the Fire District that we are really trying to take care of, as that is who we all work for.
A Q&A with Commissioner Wells:
Question: What is your background?
Answer: Well, I have to say that so far it has been a full ride. Started out as a volunteer fire fighter in Spokane Co. Fire Dist. 9 serving at the Country Homes Fire Station located at Division and Hawthorne RD., an then going through the ranks becoming a volunteer Battalion Chief and served in that position from 1975-1980.
In 1967 I went to work for Whitworth Water Dist and due to pay systems also went to work for Spokane Co. Fire Dist 9, all the while going to college. Some would say the jobs were a combination of firewater. While at Whitworth, the District grew from 600 to 3800 accounts. They promoted me to Water Superintendent in 1972 and I remained so through 1977. We did a lot of work bringing systems up to standard and went through quite a building boom. I was fortunate to have a great crew to work with.
While there I received a Water Manager #2 certification.
I left the Water District to stay in the fire business. Many changes were starting to occur. It was nice to be a part of those changes through 1999. Two additional building booms and hiring additional personnel became the norm. My responsibilities included creating and developing a District-wide training system, developing fire operations systems and gettng a Fire Prevention Division in place. We had a lot of really great people in the Department and it was a pleasure to work with them. I served as a Deputy Chief from 1984-1999, while also serving on a WA State interagency command team as a type II All Risk Logistics Chief and then retired. Kind of.
I have been private business consulting for 15+ years.
Question: Where do you live in the Fire District?
Answer: I have owned property on Deer Lake since 1975. After figuring out how to keep the pipes from freezing and the road open (hasn’t that been a task for us) in the winter I made it my home in April 2004.
How long have you served as a fire commissioner?
Answer: I was selected to replace an outgoing commissioner in April 2005 so 18 +years. Yes, I am on the November ballot for an additional term. We have accomplished much but there is still more to do. It’s fun to be a part of the process. My fellow commissioners the District Chiefs, administrative personnel and the fire crews have been great to work with.
What experience do you bring to the Board of Fire Commissioners? Answer: Being in top management for so long you learn a lot about how to avoid messes and solve problems at the local level before they occur. Budgeting and planning are a huge part and being a “systems guy”, it is easy to relate to needs and more importantly figure out ways to solve them efficiently, cost effectively and safely.