Saturday, January 3, 2015

Public Safety Is My Priority

As your newly elected director to the El Dorado Hills County Water/Fire District, I would like to first thank the voters for their trust in giving me the opportunity to serve the community as an elected official.  I’m looking forward to working with the current Board to help guide the department in a prudent, efficient and responsible manner as it relates to fiscal management and public safety.

As part of my commitment to engage the community more, I would like to invite El Dorado Hills citizens interested in knowing more about operational, financial and strategic aspects of the department to meet with me over coffee on Thursday, January 8, 2015, 8am to 10am at Raley’s in the coffee lounge.  I’m soliciting folks for a Citizens Advisory Committee to meet on a regular basis to discuss the needs and desires of the community.  Anyone with an interest in public safety is invited to be a part of this informal discussion group (Note:  This committee is NOT sanctioned by the department or the Board and is strictly a function of my personal duty to the public).  I have met many citizens that have expressed a desire to be a part of this committee…the more the better!

As I look out over the coming months, the Board will be wrestling with some very important topics such as:
1)      To proceed or not with the planned training facility on 21 acres in the business park
2)      The justification and determination of continuing to charge development fees on all new residential and commercial construction
3)      To move forward on a large investment in solar technology for all four stations
4)      The renegotiation of the Memo Of Understanding on all labor relations

Lastly, I urge everyone within El Dorado Hills to remember to use the Camino dispatch emergency phone number 530-626-4911 for all fire/medical emergencies within El Dorado County rather than dialing 911 from cellular phones.  The cellular 911 reporting and routing system is inefficient and time restrictive when using cellular phones (NOT so when dialed from landline phones though).  Communications and dispatch is another topic to be addressed by the Board down the road and a “hot button” of mine.

I have personally noted this emergency phone number in my cellular phone as a “Favorite” labeled:  Fire/Med Emergency El Dorado County Only .  Get everyone in your family to do this as an added safeguard and possibly quicker response times than dialing 911 from a cellular phone.  This number is for fire/medical emergencies only and SHOULD NOT be used for police or other public safety emergencies.


Stay tuned as I keep you apprised of department happenings and public safety issues while serving on this Board.  Again, thank you El Dorado Hills for electing me to serve you.