The elected officials of the city of North Bend and of Fire District 38, the unincorporated area surrounding North Bend and Snoqualmie, have placed a ballot issue, Proposition 1, to authorize the sale of bonds to replace the existing fire station serving both jurisdictions on the February 8 election.

Our current station, Fire Station 87, dates to 1941. It was built for our community’s volunteer firefighters and their apparatus and it served as a focal point for numerous community events. Much has changed since 1941. The station has been remodeled, refitted and expanded several times as our area has grown over the decades. Now, 70 years later, the station is no longer adequate for current needs; it is a mishmash of cobbled-together short-term remedies and is no longer adaptable to future growth.

A “yes” vote will authorize the sale of bonds to finance the cost of building a new facility, constructed to modern code and seismic standards. It will more effectively house the firefighters and paramedics who respond to our emergencies, and their vehicles. Without the high quality level of public safety service we enjoy, the livability of our community and the viability of our business and service sector, could be jeopardized.

Public safety infrastructure improvements are not free. Nor should they be—we are a proud and independent community and we expect to pay our own way!

On balance, considering the price of failing to replace crumbling critical infrastructure, versus the modest tax increase necessary to build the station, the cost is not out of line: If the bonds are approved, beginning in 2012 the owner of a $250,000 property will pay approximately $4.50 per month in additional tax.

We urge the voters in North Bend and Fire District 38 to support the necessary replacement of Fire Station 87 with a ‘YES’ vote on Proposition 1, and to return their mail-in ballot on or before Feb. 8, 2011.

Ron and Chris Pedee

North Bend