City reaches agreement with Justin VFD

Wise County Messenger
By ops@our-hometown.com | Published on September 23, 2022
BY RICHARD GREENE
rgreene@wcemssenger.com

After striking a deal to provide funding to the East Wise Fire Department earlier this month, the New Fairview City Council approved a new pact with the Justin Volunteer Fire Department Monday.

The council voted to increase the annual payment to the Justin Volunteer Fire Department from $3,000 to $12,000. The city will pay the fire department $1,000 per month for fire and ambulance service in the Denton County portion of the city.

“For the Denton County portion of the city, Justin Volunteer Fire Department has been providing protection and responding but our agreement with them expired in June 2021,” said City Administrator John Cabrales.

“I can’t believe that’s all we were paying for that service. But in their case, at least they were getting something. East Wise was getting nothing but a thank you and they have a bigger portion of our city. We really have not been doing a good service to our first responders on the Denton County or Wise County side. I think the council is starting to remedy that with signing these contracts.”

As part of the agreement, the Justin department will enter written mutual aid agreements with the East Wise Fire Department and Wise County EMS within six months. The city will also allow the department use of its facilities and grounds for training and activities.

The agreement also states if the disannexation of Falcon Ridge is approved in November, the annual payment will decrease to $9,000.

“It’s not too much, but we needed to lessen that amount some,” Cabrales said.

Justin firefighters and medics will still be responding to calls in Falcon Ridge under its agreement with Denton County.

“Nothing will change except for who pays for the service,” Cabrales said.

With construction underway for homes in Paloma Ranch on South County Line Road, the city will still have a significant service area in Denton County even if the disannexation for Falcon Ridge is successful.

Cabrales also said talks with the City of Justin could progress on water and wastewater service, allowing development in Constellation Lakes and Shoop Ranch within the next two years. Combined the two developments near County Line Road have an estimated 6,000 homes.

Earlier this month, the City of New Fairview agreed to pay the East Wise Fire Department $26,400 a year for fire protection in the city. It is making payments of $2,200 per month to the department.

As part of the agreement, the East Wise Fire Department will provide emergency response inside the city limits of New Fairview, work to maintain the lowest fire insurance classification (ISO rating), submit a budget to the city, be represented at council meetings when requested and maintain proper training and qualifications for firefighters.

The city is required to maintain the fire station in the multi-purpose facility. In recent years, East Wise has moved some of its apparatus from the station on Farm Road 2264 near Oliver Creek to the multi-purpose facility.

The East Wise Fire Department’s district covers the east portion of the county from New Fairview north along FM 2264, including areas around Coyote Ridge and Oliver Creek and a large stretch of U.S. 81/287 south of Decatur to Rhome.

The $1.793 million budget approved by the council, included $111,320 for public safety. The city allotted $44,000 for residence deputies.