Fire District No. 3 levy renewal passing

GRANT COUNTY - A Grant County Fire District No. 3 maintenance and operations levy renewal is on its way to approval, according to preliminary results from the county auditor's office.

Of 1,126 votes counted by Wednesday, 754 were in support of the levy, totaling 66.96 percent of votes. A 60 percent supermajority is required for the levy's approval, according to the auditor's office.

Results are certified Nov. 27.

"We're happy with the results so far, and I guess we're cautiously optimistic that it will pass," Fire Chief Don Fortier said Wednesday, after Tuesday's numbers were posted.

In a contract with Quincy Valley Medical Center, the fire district agreed to share levy funds with the hospital so it can keep its ambulance service running. If the levy is approved, $100,000 per year would go to the hospital and $144,000 per year would go to the fire district.

"From all of us at Quincy Valley Medical Center, we are excited and proud of the community's outpouring of support for this levy," stated Marketing Director Dick Burkenpas. "The continued and growing partnership with the fire department, to provide the best possible EMS services to our growing community, is truly exciting. We look forward to working more closely with them in this ever stronger EMS partnership. Thank you to everyone who voted and showed your support."

Fortier told voters funding to the fire district goes toward basic life support. All fire engines in the district's seven stations are licensed aid vehicles. They include equipment such as automated external defibrillators. A rescue truck in Quincy and fire engine in George hold "jaws of life" tools, which can open vehicles in the event of a collision.

Fortier said by voting to renew the levy, the fire district and citizens can help keep the hospital's ambulance service going.

The hospital district lost reimbursement it was receiving through a Medicare critical access hospital program. Medicare auditors required the hospital pay back $100,000 in reimbursement per year for the next three years, after discovering the nearest ambulance service was in Wenatchee, less than 35 miles from the hospital.