Benton County Fire District 4 is asking voters to consider a bond to build and equip a station (including another ambulance) and replace three fire engines that are approaching the end of their usable lives. The station would be in the western part of the fire district’s service territory.
Surprisingly, Chief Bill Whealan says that questions he receives about the proposal aren’t cost-related. (The bond would be approximately $7 per month for the owner of a $300,000 home.) In general, people want to know how an additional station will improve service district-wide.
“People recognize that population has increased and we need to maintain emergency service levels,” said Chief Bill Whealan. “The questions we are receiving are completely different than past ballot measures.”