Mayor Fletcher: Fire district budget shortfalls threaten rural emergency services

CASHMERE - Mayor Jim Fletcher informed the Cashmere City Council on March 10 that Fire District 6 will hold a levy to address budget shortfalls, warning that emergency medical services outside city limits could be affected if the measure fails.

According to Fletcher, based on his conversations with fire district officials, "if the levy fails, it is likely that neither the District or City will be responding to emergency medical calls in the areas outside of the Cashmere city limits." He noted that District 6 currently contracts with Cashmere to provide EMS services between Dryden and Monitor, including side canyons, expressing concern that levy failure could lead the Fire District to "reduce or cancel the agreement with the City."

The mayor also highlighted an upcoming dedication ceremony at the Cashmere Valley Museum celebrating the digitization of the Cashmere Valley Record, with archives dating back to 1907. Fletcher told council members the city helped fund the project and digital copies are now available at https://washingtondigitalnewspapers.org/.

In unanimous decisions, the council approved two business items during the brief meeting. They authorized $43,000 for replacement of a pressure reducing valve (PRV) along Tigner Road, part of the wastewater treatment system. City documents identified this as one of four PRV stations needing replacement in the City's Water Comprehensive Plan, with the Tigner Road valve prioritized because "failure would most negatively impact the water system."

The council also adopted the 2024 Chelan County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Director of Operations explained that the 15-member group reviews potential hazards including fire, flooding, smoke, and earthquakes to develop mitigation plans. Adoption enables the city to apply for hazard mitigation project grants.