In its first meeting since Nestle Waters North America announced that it was “stepping out” of its contract to build a water bottling plant in the town, the McCloud Community Services District board discussed ways to promote Ballot Measure “T”, a tax measure slated for the November ballot. The measure will ask MCSD voters to approve a Fire and Ambulance Services special tax increase from $64.48 per year for each single family residence to $152.87 per year.
According to an information packet distributed by the MCSD at the meeting, “The special taxes approved by voters in 1997 are no longer sufficient to keep providing fire and ambulance services. Twelve years ago, voters approved taxes of $64.48 per year for each single family residential structure… Inflation is a major reason that the twelve year old taxes are not keeping up with the financial needs but it is not the only reason. State and federal requirements have also increased dramatically over the years. We must meet the training and equipment requirements in order to continue to provide services… [The proposed increase on the November ballot] is an increase of $7.37 per month for two basic necessary services… This increase represents a ‘bare bones’ budget with absolutely no bells and whistles. This does not pay for an increase in personnel. We have and will continue to have a part-time Fire Chief who is also an Emergency Medical Technician.”
In discussing Ballot Measure T, board member Anne Simons said that a ‘spaghetti feed’ is in the works for a Sunday evening before the absentee ballots are mailed, during which ballot measure sheets will be distributed to help share information about the tax increase with the community. Letters will also be sent to every registered voter set to decide on the measure.
In other business, the board voted to surplus a tot swing that did not pass state inspection and make it for sale ‘as is.’
Fire Hall project
After the 11 minute meeting, which one observer said “was the fastest in five years,” general manager Beth Steele talked about McCloud’s Fire Hall Project, a community effort to rehabilitate the town’s fire hall.
The project will see community members come together on the weekend of Sept. 5-7 to power wash, scrape, sand, and prepare the building. Then on the weekend of Sept.12-14, they will paint it.
A fundraiser dinner buffet and auction at the McCloud Golf Course on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. will round out the two-weekend community project.  
According to Steele, who stood before the aged fire hall as Mt. Shasta loomed in the background, the project grew up around an original set of volunteers who offered their labor to power wash and paint the building, and began to gain steam thanks to the efforts of Claudia Ellis, who “… has really gotten the community involved thanks to her strength of will. She talked to anyone and everyone. ”
The project will also serve to honor the memory of longtime Firemen’s Associate member Bob Leatherman, whose family donated the money that will be used to purchase the paint. A memorial plaque at the fire hall will be dedicated to Leatherman.
‘Financial crisis point’
Discussing Ballot Measure T, Steele said, “We are now at a financial crisis point for our Fire and Ambulance services. Our concern is that if we lose our fire department, our ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating can increase, our homeowners’ insurance can increase. Some in the community believe that CDF/Cal-Fire will automatically become our primary coverage. But CDF/Cal-Fire provided a cost estimate to McCloud for its services. The cost was far in excess of the ballot measure… When people see McCloud Fire Department roll, they see CDF roll. But that’s because of a mutual aid agreement. But without a McCloud Fire Department, mutual aid isn’t possible…[CDF/Cal-Fire] service is far in excess of the tax base.”
“If we have a sustainable fire department,” Steele continued, “we are eligible for grant funds… If the ballot measure passes, future grant funds could potentially carry the tax base farther into the future. But grants alone cannot make us sustainable.”
Asked to comment on Nestle and the cancellation of its contract with the MCSD, Steele said, “I’m looking forward to new discussions, looking forward to community input. Nestle will be looking for community input… I’m interested in seeing this come to fruition in a peaceable
manner.”
Anyone interested in helping with the McCloud Fire Hall project should call Claudia Ellis at 964-9708 or 276-1305.
Tickets to the Sept. 14 fundraiser dinner buffet and auction are $15 and can be purchased at the Brown Dog Gallery, the McCloud General Store, and the McCloud Mercantile.