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By Kevin M. Smith

Kearney area voters will have one question on the ballot for the Tuesday, Aug. 4, election.

The Kearney Fire & Rescue Protection District is asking for a $3.5 million bond issue to refinance lease-purchase agreements for some vehicles and its buildings. Equipment upgrades are also on the list for purchases with the bond money.

The bond money would also be used to renovate the basement of the current fire station, completing the building. The basement would be used as a training room and house some fitness equipment.

The fire district includes 84 square miles around Kearney — about a 5-mile radius. Pratt said calls have increased 30.7 percent the past five years and are on track this year to exceed last year’s numbers.

The bond would take about 15 years to pay off, Pratt said.

The bond issue would increase the current $0.7965 operating levy by 9 cents to $0.8865, which is lower than most fire districts of a comparable size in the region, Pratt said. The average home in the Kearney fire district is valued at $200,000, according to Pratt. He said at that assessed valuation, it would cost the average homeowner about $2.85 a month if the bond issue passes.

The average home in the Kearney fire district is valued at $200,000, according to Pratt. He said at that assessed valuation, it would cost the average homeowner about $2.85 a month if the bond issue passes.

“The District’s strategic plan is based on a balancing of the community’s needs in terms of fire and ambulance response time, service and education through proper staffing, equipment, and facilities,” Todd Gustafson, chairman of the board, stated in a press release in May. “This bond issue in combination with the January award of SAFER grant funds are key parts of that strategic plan and, we believe, is the fiscally responsible action to take.”

The fire district’s Board of Directors decided at its May meeting to place a $3.5 million bond issue on the Tuesday, Aug. 4, ballot

The fire district covers seven voting precincts and nearly 10,000 voters, according to Pratt. Voters should check their voter registration card from the county to verify if they are eligible to vote in this election.

Kearney is identified as Fire District No. 2 on voter registration cards.

The fire district serves about 23,000 residents, Pratt said.

WHERE TO VOTE

Precincts in the Fire District      Polling location

Kearney 1                                     Holt City Hall, 430 Main St., Holt

Kearney 2, 3 & 4                          Annunciation Community Center,

705 N. Jefferson St., Kearney

Fishing River 5                            Mosby City Hall, 12312 4th St., Excelsior Springs

Liberty 9                                        Providence Baptist Church,

12206 N. Stark Road, Kansas City

Washington 3                              First United Methodist Church,

1000 E. Missouri Highway 92, Kearney

Part of Washington 1                 Goppert Financial Bank,

29206 NE 184th St.,Lawson

Polls will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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