Sen. Adley obtained funding to defray costs incurred by Bossier Parish Fire District

Funding in the amount of $50,000 has been acquired through House Bill 1 for fire protection at Camp Minden.

During the recent legislative session, Sen. Robert Adley obtained the funding, which was appropriated to the Louisiana National Guard’s Camp Minden facility to defray costs incurred by Bossier Parish Fire District 1.

Adley, Rep. Henry Burns and Rep. Jean Doerge met with Camp Minden officials and representatives of Fire District 1 and the State Fire Marshal’s office Tuesday to discuss the funding and future plans.

“Last year, we had a series of meetings about trying to get some fire protection for Camp Minden,” said Adley. “In the past, Camp Minden has been served by Fire District 1 out of Bossier Parish. The issue came up as to what the cost was to provide that service.”

At the suggestion of Rep. Doerge, those involved contacted Butch Browning of the Fire Marshal’s Office.

“There is a dedicated stream of money in Louisiana that comes out of the fire insurance fund that can only be used for fire protection,” said Adley. “Butch had the suggestion that we try to get some money dedicated from that fund.”

Despite tremendous efforts, a permanent dedication was not obtained.

Adley said he believes one issue that prevented a permanent dedication was the fact that it included the formation of a new position at Camp Minden.

“Number one, Butch saw the need to hire someone out here on a permanent basis,” said Adley. “The state was not in the position this year to add anybody.”

The senator said it took a series of meetings with Angele Davis and others in the governor’s office to convince them that $50,000 for an agreement between Fire District 1 and Camp Minden was a “bargain.”

“We were able to put in House Bill 1 $50,000 in the National Guard’s budget for the express purpose to enter into whatever agreement they enter into,” said Adley. “I was very pleased with it, but now we need to get a dedication. It’s difficult to have to go down there every year, year in and year out, and fight a fight over $50,000 in a $30 billion budget.”

Burns said the on-going growth of Camp Minden made the fire protection issue an easy one to sell.

“The beautiful part about it, and what made it so easy to sell is, you have a nearly $100 million building project (at Camp Minden) that needed fire protection and with Fire District 1, you had a favorable insurance rating,” said Burns. “I think the hope in everyone is, once this gets built and the permanent parties are here – all the families and the other people who will be employed here – they can have their own fire district. That will strengthen both Webster and Bossier, because there will be another team out there.”

Adley said when the issue of fire protection first came up, both Dixie Inn and the Minden fire departments were contacted; however, for various reasons, neither entity wished to participate.

“Fire District 1, if it hadn’t been for them, there wouldn’t be any fire protection out here,” said Adley. “They ought to be complimented greatly for their efforts and what they are doing.”

Col. Ron Stuckey agreed.

“We took over in January 05 and we have been struggling with fire protection ever since then,” said Stuckey. “We worked with Dixie Inn, Minden, and we finally got Bossier Parish to help us. We had an agreement with the military and the fire district, and the agreement laid out various responsibilities, but it didn’t really cover the financial piece of that. With your (Adley, Doerge, Burns and Browning) help, I think we have now covered that, at least for this year.”

Browning said the Pine Country fire training facility at Camp Minden has “built a lot of bridges.”

“When I got the call to get involved in this, I very quickly realized the economic growth this facility was going to have and the uniqueness,” said Browning. “This is the most unique state facility I have ever seen. You look at LSU in Baton Rouge – it’s intermingled in the city of Baton Rouge by the Wal-Marts, the grocery stores – there is a benefit to the local government to have LSU there. The uniqueness of this facility is there are no Wal-Marts or grocery stores in Camp Minden. The services it needs, as it relates to emergency services and fire protection, is pretty significant, but it doesn’t have the tax base for a fire district to survive. So, to me, it’s really unique in that the state had to be involved and put in money to provide this fire protection.”

Browning said maintaining fire safety at Camp Minden is the responsibility of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
“With all of these buildings being state owned buildings, that falls within the responsibilities of the State Fire Marshal to maintain fire safety — to inspect and do fire protection activities annually,” said Browning. “We are doing that now in the buildings that are occupied, but as this thing gets bigger, as you can see, our roll of being out here is going to be full time.”

Browning said bringing LSU in as a partner is also under consideration, due to its presence with Pine Country.

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved