I’m under major water this week but I’ll put out there that the Fire and Rescue sub-committee met tonight to finalize a fleet plan to present to full F&R committee on Wed and then on to Council.  We have a finance meeting Wednesday but only after a full day of interviewing candidates for City manager.  We’ll also interview all day thursday and Friday.  This week is essentially full-time working for the City.  Christmas tree lighting on Friday and parade on Saturday tho!

Also, OHS boosters are selling Christmas trees this year, go buy from them!

Just a quick hit from the Council meeting last night: the 5 year forecast was approved last night.  The most immediate effect of that document is the expectation that we’ll raise taxes by a half a cent in the next Fiscal year to pay for new fire trucks.  The general fund side is flat.

For all those who get their knickers in a knot over that half cent, I suppose we could lay off fire fighters or cut operations in order to pay for new fire trucks but that seems relatively pointless to me.  Our fleet is beyond old and we’re spending over $200k a year on maintenance just at the fire station.  If your knickers are still in a knot, grab a shovel and help dig us out by signing up to be a volunteer fire fighter or EMT.