Two sales tax entities focus on special projects

WORLAND — Two of the entities that will receive funding from the one-cent general purpose tax, if voters approve the continuation of the tax next Tuesday, have specific projects in mind for the additional revenue.

CRISIS PREVENTION AND RESPONSE CENTER

Currently the Crisis Prevention and Response Center has received $81,542.50 from the tax passed in 2014. CPRC has utilized approximately half of those funds to pay for soil testing, fire marshal and other costs to help get an addition project underway.

“The remainder of the money will go toward the building addition which as of now will include every single penny as we are avoiding at all costs to take out a loan,” Executive Director Karina Rice said.

“As for the continuation of the tax we will be utilizing those funds to help cover anything not covered for the addition of the building if needed, as well as utilizing it for matching grants,” she added.

The addition the CPRC has been working on will include an office for the advocates, a playroom and two bathrooms. Rice said the playroom provides a place for children when a parent comes in seeking assistance. “It’s good to separate them when the parent is disclosing the trauma,” she said.

According to CPRC records, in three years Crisis Prevention & Response Center has served 240 victims of crime that includes men and women and 201 children.

CPRC has provided over 2,000 services to these clients that include: crisis intervention, safety planning, financial assistance, court accompaniment,

transportation, and individual advocacy.

CPRC operates a 24-hour crisis hot line in which 2,304 hours have been dedicated to victims of crime for after hour emergencies.

CPRC has received 5,100 calls for assistance in the past three years.

WORLAND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT #1

The Worland Fire Protection District No. 1 is the other entity seeking assistance for a specific project. This is the first year the fire department has been on the resolution to partake of the sales tax revenue. A survey was conducted earlier this year to gauge the community’s priority for the sales tax with 10 entities originally signed up that were interested in the sales tax revenue.

The fire district does levy three mills within the district boundary, but Chief Chris Kocher said those funds are used for administrative, operations, and indirect budgets line items for the WFPD.

“We work to maintain and balance all of our needs for community protection and response, however fire equipment is not cheap and the funding we receive does not cover our full needs and has not for many years. We work to fund the equipment needed and/ or replaced from savings from a budget, grants, or from out-of-district fire dispatches,” Kocher said.

Currently a structure response truck costs between $350,000 and $500,000. A ladder truck costs approximately $1,000,000. Replacing wildland trucks cost between $100,000 and $250,000 depending on size. Kocher said in addition to vehicle equipment, the district and department must also keep their personal protective equipment (PPE) such as air packs and bunker gear up to date and tested. We have to replace some of this gear occasionally to meet codes and standards.

“On an average it costs about $10,000 in gear and PPE to have a single structural firefighter geared up and ready to enter a burning building. We enter with a crew of two and a back-up crew of two,” Kocher said.

He said they have worked to secure funding from sources such as the FEMA-AFG grant and others but aerial apparatus are not top priority on the list to fund.

Kocher said a some people have asked why Worland needs a ladder truck but he noted there are many buildings just along Big Horn Avenue, as well as churches and factories where the ladder truck may be needed.

Earlier this year the ladder truck was used on a house fire north of Worland just off of U.S. 20 in order to be able to fight the fire from above.

Kocher said he anticipates that the funds achieved through the 1 cent funding will allow the WFPD to complete the purchase of the new ladder truck.

Kocher said the department overall responds to about 250 calls annually, not including special events such as parades. Fire calls include fires, crashes, hazardous material spills and other emergencies such as flooding.

—

Online: http://www.washakieonecent.com/

This is the fourth part of a series on the one-cent sale tax that will be on general election ballot Tuesday.