Osage Beach Fire Hoping For Good Turnout At Upcoming NOV Elections
Next Tuesday is election day across the Lake Area and those within the Osage Beach Fire Protection District will be heading to the polls.
Osage Beach Fire Chief Paul Berardi says one issue is asking for the district to be able to issue $13-million in general obligation bonds for a new firehouse and equipment needed for it.
The other issue is asking for a property tax hike to fund a complete emergency medical first responder program “This will help us to be able to provide the most advanced, pre-hospital care that the state of Missouri will allow…the only thing we won’t do is transport the patient. So we’ll still work in partnership with the ambulance districts in the area.”
Berardi also says, up this point, he’s confident based on the feedback received “I’ve been out to Osage Beach City Alderman’s meetings, Linn Creek Alderman’s meetings…I’ve had several community meetings and I’ve met with other community leaders as well and I haven’t had any negative comments about the plan.”
The polls open next Tuesday, November 2nd, at 6am and close at 7pm.
Learn more about the Osage Beach Fire Protection District’s plans on their website: https://obfire.com/
****Additional Details:
From Chief Berardi:
In my June 23 blog post, I wrote about our strategic planning process and announced that I would be holding a series of public meetings regarding the future plans for a non-transport Advanced Life Support EMS Division and a new Fire Station #1/headquarters. There will be two referendums on the November 2, 2021 ballot. The first is a general obligation bond issue for capital needs and the other is a levy for the operations of the new EMS Division.
I provided informational presentations to the Board of Aldermen of City of Osage Beach and of Linn Creek on August 26th and to the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau on September 21. I will present at the Rotary Club monthly meeting and at the Elks Lodge on October 5th. Please contact us at 573-348-1221 or through the Contact link on the homepage if you interested in a short presentation to your group or at your living facility. The presentation is approximately 10 minutes followed by an opportunity for questions. There is allot of information on this site as well, including; frequently asked questions, preliminary fire station plans, tax calculator, and a series of short videos created in house to provide information.
This plan is intended to address these identified weaknesses: 1) a lack of ability to respond to simultaneous calls for service, 2) a reduction in fire protection when an engine is out of service on EMS calls, 3) more than a mile setback from the main thoroughfare and lack of ease to respond in both directions on Osage Beach Parkway, 3) lack of providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) services, and 4) the wear and tear on our large fire apparatus responding to medical calls which make up 93% of 3,000 annual incidents.
Please remember to vote on Tuesday, November 2, 2021
We continue to provide professional, fast, reliable, on-the-spot emergency services to both full and part-time residents. The District Vision statement remains “Our Family Protecting Your Family Because We Care”.
Please stay safe and well!
In Service,
Paul Berardi
Fire Chief
Reporter Webmaster
