KPFD Land and Building Expansions

I continue to read with interest the ongoing comments, surveys and discussions in the Key Peninsula News regarding the expansion of KP Fire Department facilities in Key Center.

While I agree that growth and expansion are needed, I would ask the board of fire commissioners to reconsider the location of that expansion.

The purchased Key Center locations under consideration — a residence with undeveloped pasture land and a commercial building — are the very rare properties that can support business on the Key Peninsula. They produce income for our families and the county, the schools, parks and fire department, and income for grants for our nonprofits. In short, they generate revenue through employment, property taxes, sales taxes, B & O taxes, and I’m sure there are others I have not mentioned.

Should the fire department build new facilities on the parcels those revenue streams would be lost. A clear example is the corner property at the heart of Key Center purchased for $950,000 from the Calahan family. Prior to the purchase, the facility produced income through its business operations. Now there is zero income. This loss of revenue must be shouldered by the taxpayers.

After attending the KPFD town hall July 10 where some of these matters were discussed, the due diligence of the board is now even more in question. Why? Because the parcels they purchased and removed from the tax rolls cannot support their unrealistic dreams without the exorbitant expense of:

• Designing and upgrading the entire water system for the current buildings on the community system.
• Designing and installing a septic system that is so unrealistic that it may be impossible to build.
• Designing a stormwater plant that is probably unrealistic and perhaps impossible.
• Designing and installing a fire protection plan that would satisfy the unrealistic county codes.

The location for department expansion could be elsewhere with much less impact on the prime commercial center of Key Center. With some research and patience, I’m sure a location could be found just as suitable with a smaller price tag, far less impact on revenue, and allowing commercial business in the best location.