Timberlake Fire at critical crossroads

I sat in solemn disbelief last week at the Timberlake Fire District Commissioners meeting, as Commissioner Robyn Edwards voiced her “agenda” to outsource our EMT services.

Those of us who love and live in rural areas know that the backbone of our communities is the loyal, dedicated and hardworking people who provide our emergency services. Timberlake Fire’s EMT services are exemplary and valued and cherished by our district’s community.

Living in Bayview and having experienced Robyn Edwards’ bent for “outsourcing” critical services as Director Edwards on the Bayview Water and Sewer District, I can give you a little history of her “results.” The BWSD had existed for more than 40 years with qualified in-house staff who provided 24-hour service, relatively low water and sewer rates and a financially sound district with savings in the bank.

Once Director Edwards began her campaign under the guise of “concern for our financial resources” — the same line she used at the Timberlake Fire meeting — BWSD now has outsourced all water and sewer operations, our rates have increased and our service has decreased. We have an out of town private contract operator who answers the phone and calls out of town service providers at exorbitant costs.

Although Ms. Edwards will tell you how much she has “saved” the district, they are rifling through the savings accumulated by the prior board and we are out of compliance with our DEQ permit. If that isn’t enough, Ms. Edwards is now the most vocal proponent of a $2.8 million proposed revenue bond that will tax our little district of 400+ residents with rates that will double our existing water rates and potentially drive many of our elderly residents on fixed incomes from their homes.

Let there be no mistake, if Commissioner Edwards is not stopped, we will end up with a “private contractor” providing the most critical services to us and our loved ones, coming from some distant place with no dedication or affiliation to our community. These private contractors will be profit-driven and if they don’t like the insurance we have, we will most likely be left to fend for ourselves.

Commissioner Edwards’ agenda to outsource is insidious, relentless and power-driven with no regard for the well-being of the district’s residents. She must be stopped.

I am urging all Timberlake Fire District residents to start attending the district’s commissioner meetings. Make your voices be heard! Let the other commissioners, and Commissioner Edwards, know how we value these lifesaving services and the dedicated individuals who provide them.

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Colleen Dahlseid is a Bayview resident.