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County island fire district petitions filed
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The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors took another step Thursday toward forming Gilbert’s first county island fire district.
County island petitions need 664 names
Petition blitz is on to secure fire district for county islands
County board OKs island fire district map
The board accepted petitions filed by county residents living within Gilbert’s town limits and scheduled a public hearing for comments on the proposed fire district for 9 a.m. Wednesday at 205 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix.
Residents circulating the petitions needed 664 signatures from about 1,327 property owners to form the district. If the petitions are deemed valid at the hearing, the board will appoint three governing board members for the district. The proposed district will be formed as of Jan 18.
In October, the board approved the boundaries of the fire district made possible under a new state law passed in June that requires surrounding cities and towns to provide fire service to county islanders if no other provider bids for the job. That law also allows county islands that don’t touch to form fire districts.
County residents would pay a new property tax for the service.
Gilbert county island residents have been without fire coverage since the private Rural/Metro Fire Department stopped serving the area on Oct. 1, 2006. Gilbert officials have declined to provide coverage in return for a fee, but could be mandated to provide the coverage in return for a tax under the new law.
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