Sean C. Morgan
Sweet Home voters approved a $1.575 million bond levy request by the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District in the May 17 primary election.
Voting for the bond were 2,006, 54.91 percent. Voting no were 1,471, 40.27 percent.
The 6-year bond will cost taxpayers 31 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, a reduction of 6 cents from another bond the district will pay off early next year.
The two bonds will overlap, but the rate for November will be 30 cents or less.
The new bond will be used to replace the district’s rescue units, ambulances and the battalion chief’s response vehicle.
It also will help pay for building improvements, including a new bay at the Foster substation, a new building at the Fire Hall and remodeling of the sleeping quarters and kitchen at the Fire Hall, 1099 Long St.
The bond will replace aging equipment. The district needs to replace its self-contained breathing apparatus and is seeking a grant to replace 40 sets with 45 new sets. If it cannot win the grant, the bond will replace the SCBA gear. The district also plans to replace cutting equipment, the “Jaws of Life,” which are obsolete, slow and incapable of cutting through some modern vehicles, according to fire officials.
“The first three main items that we’re going to work on are the rescue vehicle, the BC’s rig and the ambulance, actually,” said Fire Chief Dave Barringer. Staff members are working on vehicle specifications now.
With the ambulance, they are planning to keep the ambulance box from an existing medic unit, Barringer said, and mounting it to a new chassis.
“I really appreciate the support – excited, thankful and pleased,” Barringer said. “It’ll help us move forward on our list we need to do to make our service better and more efficient.”
Also in Linn County, in the Democrat primary Peter DeFazio beat Joseph McKinney in the race for U.S. representative, fourth district.
Richard Harisay ran unopposed for the ninth district in the state senate. The district includes Sweet Home and most surrounding areas.
Democrat Phil Barnhart ran unopposed for state representative in the 11th district, which includes the area southwest of Sweet Home city limits along Highway 228.
No Democrat filed for state representative in the 17th district, which includes Sweet Home and most surrounding areas.
No Democrats filed for county commissioner.
In the Republican primary, Art Robinson defeated Jo Rae Perkins for U.S. Representative, fourth district. Robinson will face DeFazio in November.
Incumbent Fred Girod ran unopposed for the ninth senate district. He will face Harisay in November.
For state representative in the 17th district, incumbent Sherrie Sprenger ran unopposed.
Incumbents Will Tucker and Roger Nyquist ran unopposed for county commissioner. They will face no opponent in the fall.
In Independent Party primaries, Jeff Goodwin of Sweet Home ran unopposed for state house district 17. He will face Sprenger in November. He is currently a member of the Sweet Home City Council.