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Tenino council hears fire‑department update; bond funds used, levy increase discussed to retain staff
Summary
Council members discussed ongoing search for a new fire station site, operational hurdles (gophers, access and annexation), partnerships with nearby departments, and plans to seek a levy increase in 2025 to raise firefighter pay and support a merger initiative.
Council members spent substantial time Dec. 10 reviewing options for the Tenino Fire Department’s long‑planned station site and discussing funding and staffing pressures.
The fire chief told the council the department remains three years into a bond project without having finalized a land purchase, citing repeated obstacles including environmental constraints (“gopher issues”), annexation/railroad access limits and differing seller expectations on price. The chief said the department has been exploring multiple options — Kauffman/Kaufman property, Miles Sand & Gravel, and the back of the Ag Park — and that some owners are asking for prices or conditions beyond the department’s budget.
"Every time we've looked and started going down the rabbit hole, something jumps up and says, 'no,'" the chief said, describing a string of technical and legal hurdles that have delayed a site decision.
The chief reported recent operational data and workforce plans: roughly 22 calls in the past 30 days in the city zone and about 1,017 calls for the year (the transcript contains a fragmented numeric report); bond equipment has been paid for and placed in service; the department plans to hire a ninth career firefighter in the coming months and send that hire to Fire Academy. The chief also described active partnerships and contracts to share personnel and mechanics with neighboring agencies and said regional pay disparities (about 18% higher elsewhere) are causing staff recruitment and retention challenges.
Council members discussed using levy authority to restore the department’s levy rate (the chief said the levy had dropped from $1.50 to approximately $1.21) and indicated an intention to seek a levy measure in 2025 to raise revenue for salaries and operational stability. The chief noted bond rules require a plan to spend down funds within three years to avoid auditor concerns; the department said it is working on those compliance plans.
No formal motion or vote was taken on site selection or on initiating a levy measure; councilmembers directed continued staff work and discussions with property owners, and signaled willingness to pursue legislative or grant support where appropriate.
