Public skepticism over controversial land purchases continues to overshadow the Key Peninsula Fire District’s attempt to renew its Maintenance and Operations Levy, an $800,000-a-year ballot measure, in the November election.
About 100 or more residents attended a third KPFD town hall Oct. 10 at the KP Civic Center to review the results of a recent public survey about the real estate, to answer questions, and to air grievances about district spending and services.
Though the property purchases — three parcels bought in 2021 totaling $2.15 million — are unrelated to the upcoming M&O levy, residents expressed frustration they said could spill over into decision-making at the polls. (See “KPFD Answers Questions on Real Estate Buys at Second Town Hall,” October 2024, for more background about the property purchases.)
KPFD operates without state or federal funding and relies entirely on local property tax levies. The M&O levy makes up about 6.5% of the district’s annual budget; without that, it may lose up to six full-time firefighter-paramedics. That could mean the closure of one KP fire station and slower response times, according to Fire Chief Nick Swinhart.
Three of five stations are currently staffed full-time on the peninsula: Wauna, Home and Longbranch.
Despite no direct connection between the property deals and the M&O levy, the perception of mismanagement by the board of commissioners threatens to undermine support for the levy vote, which with 57.79% approval in the August primary election narrowly missed the 60% supermajority needed to pass.
The board is trying to navigate the fallout from its real estate decisions while also promoting the necessity of the M&O levy. The five-member board, along with Swinhart, has hosted three town hall-style meetings in the past four months.
Attempts to clarify the distinction between the M&O and property investments do not appear entirely successful, if the town hall audiences are any indication. The open discussions have been an appreciated sounding board for residents but lacked a consensus on how to move forward.
Releasing the “Key Peninsula Fire Property and Capital Facility Survey” between the August primary and the November general elections was an attempt to find that consensus, but also seemed to be a distraction from the levy that contradicted Swinhart, who has long said that “One has absolutely nothing to do with the other.”
The survey, which revealed little new insight, shows a community divided on the future of the Key Center properties. The 393 respondents represented less than 3% of the registered voters on the Key Peninsula and about 6% of those who cast ballots in the August primary election.
Based on the results, the board will likely need to address four areas in future surveys and town halls.
Contradictory Opinions on Property Management
While 158 respondents supported keeping the Olson property, which is slated for a potential new headquarters building, 184 were in favor of selling it, suggesting a lack of clear information about the implications of either choice.
Divergent Views on Timing
Responses about selling the Calahan property were split between those pushing to get rid of it sooner rather than later (163) and others wanting a wait-and-see approach (196), indicating a tension between financial discretion and urgency. Commission Chair Randy Takehara once again said that the Calahan property is no longer part of the district’s vision for a future headquarters, and selling that particular property is a foregone conclusion. The question is when.
Mixed Feelings About a Future Bond Measure
It appeared there was overwhelming support (209) for a capital facilities bond measure to pay for renovations and upgrades to existing fire stations, including the current headquarters, Station 46, in Key Center. But 112 opposed it with another 72 selecting “other,” suggesting that better communication about costs and benefits will be essential to sway the latter.
Confusion in Key Center
A clear majority (294) wanted the fire district to maintain a presence in Key Center, yet 112 were opposed to building what the board said is a much-needed new Station 46, and 184 are in favor of selling the Olson property where the potential new HQ would go. KPFD has not used Station 46 for emergency response in two decades.
The board has nearly 30 pages of comments from the survey to review. Commissioner Stan Moffett said the board will analyze the results and the comments to develop a more targeted survey sometime after the November election.
Takehara and fellow Commissioner John Patrick Kelly acknowledged that the needs of the north and south portions of the KP may differ, and they will consider those differences for future surveys and town halls.
With the November election looming, the board appears to be in a precarious position. The tenor of the meeting comments suggested that votes would not only determine the outcome of the M&O levy but also the trust and confidence the community has in the board. The community’s decision on the levy may signal whether the board can effectively address the KP’s concerns and could reshape the relationship between the two.
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