Proposal to change Grant County Fire District 10 commission on Feb. 9 ballot

ROYAL CITY — Voters in Grant County Fire District 10 will decide whether the number of fire district commissioners should change from three to five in the special election Feb. 9.

Ballots were mailed late last week for the proposal, which follows the merger of Grant County fire districts 10 and 11. Each had three commissioners, all of whom currently serve on the expanded board.

But commissioner Michael Moore said six commissioners doesn’t meet state criteria, as the commission has to have an uneven number of members.

“It’s just a formality, but it’s very important that we get it done,” Moore said.

All fire district commission seats are at-large, which means anyone living in the district is eligible to serve.

Moore said District 10 is about 400 square miles, and the former District 11 was about 120 square miles. Commissioner Gary Christensen said an area that big requires more than three commissioners.

“We want to add more voices to the board in making decisions,” Christensen said.

The current commissioners work well together, but Christensen said it’s important to get more people involved.

Dedra Osborn, elections administrator at the Grant County Auditor’s Office, said it will be up to the fire district commissioners how to readjust from six to five members, if the proposal is approved.

Osborn said two seats on the commission are up for election in November.

The majority of the fire district is farmland, Christensen said, with some developed areas and some unimproved federal and state lands. The district has four paid employees, about 50 volunteer firefighters and about 25 volunteer EMTs, Christensen said.