The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly will discuss creating the Anchor Point – Ninilchik Fire and Emergency Service Area during their meeting on Tuesday, July 7. A public hearing on the matter will be on the meeting’s agenda.
Ordianance 2020-31 will aim to expand the Anchor Point Fire and Emergency Medical Service area boundaries to include the Ninilchik area.
A working group appointed by Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce, and approved by the borough assembly, held public meetings in late-May to discuss the possibility of forming a joint Ninilchik-Anchor Point service area.
Brent Johnson, Assembly Member, and sponsor of the ordinance noted in a June memorandum: “The neighboring communities of Ninilchik and Anchor Point share a desire for consistent and dependable fire and emergency medical services. Both communities have been satisfied with their level of services in the past, but firefighters and EMS personnel are aware of deficiencies that can only be remedied with additional staffing.”
The working group found:
- Fewer volunteers are recruiting to serve on both Ninilchik and Anchor Point teams;
- A joint service area would be more efficient, especially for Ninilchik, than separate service areas;
- A stand-alone service area for Ninilchik would necessitate a mill rate of 5.75 to support satisfactory services;
- A joint area would significantly reduce the cost of ambulance runs for Ninilchik residents;
- A joint service area with a mill rate of 2.95 would provide for ten full time employees, a sustainable fund balance, and a reasonable capital outlay plan;
- A joint service area mill rate of 2.95 would increase staffing at Ninilchik and at Anchor Point fire stations, but would not be sufficient for full time staffing at either station.
If passed, the issue will go before the voters in Anchor Point Fire and Emergency Medical Service Area during the regular election on October 6.