General Manager for Chester Public Utility responds to the failure of Measure D to fund Chester Fire, the board’s next meeting to address the impacts.
In an email response to Sierra Daily News, GM Adam Cox said, “It’s a very sad day that 300 Chester residents along with the CEO of Seneca Hospital have effectively shuttered the Chester Fire Department and Ambulance.” He adds that his “heart goes out to the residents of Chester who will pay for this in the future with exorbitant home insurance rates and lack of access to emergency response.”
The ongoing negotiations with Seneca produced no viable contract for ambulance service, which would have helped sustain the department in addition to the proposed special tax.
Though CEO of Seneca, Shawn McKenzie, has shared that federal regulations have stood in the way of talks with CPUD.
The CPUD board will be convening on Tuesday, November 14th, on the agenda: billing agreement with Seneca Hospital, reduction of force of fire personnel, and to cease all fire department operations effective December 31st.
The meeting will begin at the CPUD building on Chester Airport Road at 3 pm.
