Residents and businesses in Carbondale, and in the surrounding areas, are in a bind. Their fire district is running out of money. After hiring local and national consultants, the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District is now reviewing a new Master Plan. The Board of Directors for the fire district will meet on Wednesday to consider the inch-thick document, which came with a less than $90,000 price tag.
Officials will have to decide whether to go to the voters this fall, or in the coming years, to raise money for its budget. Voters turned down a tax measure a few years back, and the district has been floundering ever since. Carbondale resident and previous volunteer Mark Chain coordinated the public outreach for the new plan. He says a national consulting firm has found the District is, overall, doing a good job. Reporter Elise Thatcher talks with Mike Chain about the Master Plan findings and recommendations.
