Enumclaw Fire Department plans to form a community advisory group

The Enumclaw Fire Department is planning for more than fires and accidents. Fire Chief Joe Clow is planning to put together a Community Advisory Group.

“We want to get community leaders and citizen representatives,” Clow said.

The chief said King County Fire District No. 28 covers a wide area from “the Green River to the White River, from the Muckleshoot Reservation to the Mountains. We want to make sure we represent all of that area.”

Clow said the purpose of the committee is to identify what the department needs are and to set priorities for the department.

Clow said the committee was part of a master plan for the department set up in 2008.

“Our purpose is not to push a tax levy or lid lift,” Clow said. “We want to find the challenges and opportunities we face. Services and revenue are part of the discussion, but there is a lot more that goes into it.”

The membership plan is a representative from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Mutual of Enumclaw, the Enumclaw business community, school district and health care community. Also there will be a member representing the community-service organizations, legal community, an in-town resident and one from the unincorporated area.

The board will have seven to nine members, and it is a voluntary position.

Clow said he wants to get the board up and running now because it is the beginning of the budget cycle for 2013.

“I’m an optimist,” Clow said. “This community is not dying or sick. We need to plan from changes for the good times when the economy recovers.”

Contact Enumclaw Courier Herald Editor Dennis Box at dbox@courierherald.com or 1-360-825-2555 (ext 5050).

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