Public Notice:
The Mason County Fire District #13 Board of Fire Commissioners will be reviewing and possibly adopting the 2024 budget at the regularly scheduled Fire Commissioner’s Meeting, an open public meeting, held on November 9, 2023 at 9 am at station 13-1, 13375 W Cloquallum Rd Elma WA 98541.
The last few weeks have been exceptionally hard on your local responders. Our call volumes were at a level we have never experienced before. That being said we were able to make every call with multiple responders. We were also able to help our neighboring departments by sending out a volunteer with a tender when they called for assistance.
During this time we were met with 3 separate responses all at once. We had a total of 6 volunteers respond along with your 2 paid staff. We received mutual aid assistance from Central Mason Fire and EMS, West Mason Fire, South Mason Fire, Mason County Fire District #12, the Department of Natural Resources and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office for multiple brush fires that are still currently under investigation. A big thanks to at least 5 unnamed members of the community who attempted to put out the fire before we arrived.
Most of you know we are a non-transporting agency. However, due to the exceptionally high call volume throughout the county we did not have a transport unit available from our neighboring districts for one of those three calls. With the help of Central Mason Fire and EMS crews on Brush-511 and our volunteers our Rescue unit 13-1 made history as they conducted our first Mason 13 patient transport to the hospital.
Some more great news! Thanks to all who voted for our Lid Lift last year we were able to get in enough money this year for some much needed maintenance. Station 13-1’s roof is finally getting replaced. This has been a much need project for a few years but we just couldn’t squeeze it in with the budget that we had. Along with that we are upgrading our radio communications in three of our primary response apparatuses.
We can’t thank our community enough for always being supportive of all of us here at Mason 13. Be sure to drive by this weekend and next week to see your tax dollars at work!
The ballot measure PASSED! Mason 13 would like to thank all who voted in favor of this Lid Lift. We will now be able to perform some much needed repairs at our fire stations. We will be sure to keep you all updated as things progress.
Stay Safe!
Mason County Fire Protection District No. 13
2022 Levy Lid Lift Ballot Proposition
Factual Statement
Mason County Fire Protection District No. 13 voters should be accurately informed about the upcoming Levy Lid Lift Ballot Measure.
The Argument Against the Measure in the Mason County Voter’s pamphlet contains factual errors and this statement is intended to set forth the facts of the tax impact of the ballot measure.
The Argument Against the Measure statement states that rejection of the ballot measure will reduce your taxes to zero. This is factually incorrect. Taxes will not be reduced if the measure is rejected, however, taxes will be increased if the measure is approved.
The following explains how the ballot measure will affect your property taxes.
The District’s current tax levy rate is approximately $1.26 per thousand of assessed valuation.
If the ballot measure is approved by the voters the tax rate will increase to $1.50 per thousand of assessed valuation. An increase of $.24 per thousand of assessed valuation.
If the voters reject the ballot measure, the current tax rate will increase based on the statutory rate of 1%.
The impact to property owners is demonstrated by the following examples (which assume that assessed values do not change for ease of explanation).
Example 1.
Property valued at $100,000.
2022 tax is $126.00
2023 tax (ballot measure approved) would be $150.00. An increase of $24.00.
2023 tax (ballot measure not approved) would be $127.26. An increase of $1.26.
Example 2.
Property valued at $332,745.
2022 tax is $419.26 ($332,745/1,000 * 1.26)
2023 (ballot measure approved) $499.12 ($332,745/1,000 * 1.50). An increase of $79.86.
2023 tax (ballot measure not approved) would be $424.25. An increase of $4.99.
Sometime in the night of December 20, 2021 Station 13-3 near Wivell Road was broken into. The burglary has left us one station down. They have stripped our fire engine of all of its small engine equipment and have caused an undetermined amount of damage, at this time, to the fire engine its self. Mason 13 has taken some heavy hits recently. With increased call volumes we need everything we have to keep our community safe. Without a lot of down time to spare we have been spending all of our extra time combing through online sales and pawn shops looking for our equipment and possibly the people who committed this crime.
We have lost the following items:
All of our Stihl equipment has custom “D” pull starter rope handles.
If you have any information please contact Mason County Sherriff. 360-426-4441
We had our United States, and POW/MIA flags stolen. Our flag pole at Station 13-1 has been bare for sometime in hopes that the person responsible would come forward. That never happened. However, our story was heard by an amazing group of individuals who wanted to help right that wrong. They are Rolling Thunder, Inc, Ch1 out of Elma, WA. Mr. Robbie Robinson of Rolling Thunder contacted us about donating a flag. So on December 9, 2021 during our regularly held Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting Rolling Thunder came out and raised a new flag. In attendance from Mason 13 were Commissioner Brian Core, Commissioner Dane Hansen, Commissioner Shawn Sisson, Chief Stan Loertscher, AC Tami Donovan, AC John Avery, and FF/EMT Sue Avery along with Robbie Robinson, Gary Cobb, Corey Clark, Rob Horton, Carol Quimby, Bill and Mary Ellen Parrish from Rolling Thunder. We are proud to have these flags fly with more meaning than that of a simple replacement. That a community came together to help each other. On behalf of Mason County Fire District 13, our volunteers and community members we would like to thank Rolling Thunder for their donation and their dedication to the community.
Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act
Effective Immediately we are required to provide a virtual option for our open public meetings regardless of which phase the county is in until further notice.
Therefore the next Board of Fire Commissioners Open Public Meeting will have the following virtual option.
Mason County Fire Protection District No. 13 is placing a proposition before the voters on the February 8 ballot authorizing the District to restore its 2022 regular property tax levy to $1.50 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation for collection in 2023. The Fire District is accepting names of people interested in participating in voter pamphlet statement pro and con committees.
The deadline for appointing the committees is December 10, 2021. Citizens interested in participating, please call 360-482-4610 by December 8th, 2021.
Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act
Effective Immediately we are required to provide a virtual option for our open public meetings regardless of which phase the county is in until further notice.
Thank you to all who voted and for your continued support!
The current ballot measure is not a new levy. This is a RENEWAL of the current EMS Levy. Please refer to the Mason County Voter’s Guide below.
https://voter.votewa.gov/GenericVoterGuide.aspx?e=868&c=23#/measure/4910
Measure Text
Fire Protection District No. 13
Regular Property Tax Levy Renewal
The Board of Commissioners for Mason County Fire Protection District No. 13 adopted Resolution No. 299, concerning a proposition to finance maintenance and operation expenses. This proposition would authorize the District to levy taxes for the provisions of emergency medical services pursuant to RCW 84.52.069 in an amount not to exceed $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for each of six consecutive years beginning with levy year 2021 for collection in 2022.
Should this proposition be approved?
Levy…Yes
Levy…No
Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act
Effective Immediately we are required to provide a virtual option for our open public meetings regardless of which phase the county is in until further notice.
Therefore the next Board of Fire Commissioners Open Public Meeting will have the following virtual option.
When: Feb 11, 2021 09:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Every month on the Second Thu, until Jul 8, 2021, 6 occurrence(s)
Feb 11, 2021 09:00 AM
Mar 11, 2021 09:00 AM
Apr 8, 2021 09:00 AM
May 13, 2021 09:00 AM
Jun 10, 2021 09:00 AM
Jul 8, 2021 CANCELLED
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/tZMrdeChrDojHdVhBm8HOrQXavxx8XzBi1oQ/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvqDkjE9aUuR6GRpwEBIjoXfPzpn5EgqdrlD3oWwh8cDLON_RaKupHCvrZ
Topic: Mason County Fire District #13 Board of Commissioners Meeting
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87629921971
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +12532158782,,87629921971# or +16699006833,,87629921971#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 876 2992 1971
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keq5eidcXa
Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act
Effective Immediately we are required to provide a virtual option for our open public meetings regardless of which phase the county is in until further notice.
Therefore the next Board of Fire Commissioners Open Public Meeting will have the following virtual option.
When: Feb 25, 2021 09:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Every month on the Fourth Thu, until Jul 22, 2021, 6 occurrence(s)
Feb 25, 2021 09:00 AM
Mar 25, 2021 09:00 AM
Apr 22, 2021 09:00 AM
May 27, 2021 09:00 AM
Jun 24, 2021 09:00 AM
Jul 22, 2021 09:00 AM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/tZ0kcOGprj8sGdcpKWMOGO_Ec5hLzzpwRfBj/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGhpzwiG9SRthqERpx5HY_CWevziCldjadejDTSLg90TTzTNbdKHqhlAM_i
Topic: Mason County Fire District #13 Board of Commissioners Meeting
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89978104633
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +12532158782,,89978104633# or +16699006833,,89978104633#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 899 7810 4633
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kc8LLxeSmq
Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act
Effective Immediately we are required to provide a virtual option for our open public meetings regardless of which phase the county is in until January 19, 2021.
Therefore the next Board of Fire Commissioners Open Public Meeting will have the following virtual option.
When: Jan 14, 2021 09:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Mason County Fire District #13 Board of Commissioner's Meeting
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84576722389
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +12532158782,,84576722389# or +16699006833,,84576722389#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 845 7672 2389
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcEImY7Ntq
Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act
Effective Immediately we are prohibited from holding in person public meetings
Therefore the next Board of Fire Commissioners Open Public Meeting will be held online using Zoom.
When: July 9, 2020 09:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Mason County Fire District #13 Board of Commissioner’s Meeting
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82833409472
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +12532158782,,82833409472# or +13462487799,,82833409472#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 828 3340 9472
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcDWyBOVni
