Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Sparky the Fire Dog
()
Date: May 05, 2012 07:56AM
Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
About $1M per year spent responding to university calls; city considering reducing staffing requirements
by Gregg MacDonald, Fairfax County Times
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20120503/NEWS/705039763/-1/fairfax-city-fire-department-can-t-afford-to-serve-george-mason&template=fairfaxTimes
A proposal by the city of Fairfax to cut some minimum staffing requirements for its firefighters has sparked a potential conflict between the city and nearby George Mason University.
According to the city, its fire and rescue squads spend as much as about $1.2 million servicing the university each year, while only receiving a fraction of that amount in return.
“We recommend a reduction of the minimum staffing level policy of the fire department with regard to the city’s truck (ladder) company,” City Manager Robert L. Sisson wrote in his recommended fiscal 2013 budget memo to the City Council. “This would reduce daily minimum staffing on the truck company from four personnel to three personnel.
“This change to the [fire department] minimum staffing policy will allow overtime expenses to be reduced by approximately $212,000.”
In a subsequent presentation before the City Council, Fairfax City Fire Chief Dave Rohr voiced his concerns with the possible reduction.
“I thoroughly understand the fiscal situation that you are in,” he said. “It is a difficult situation for all of us, but the decision in my eyes cannot be made for fiscal reasons. It is a life safety issue, for the citizens and the firefighters alike.”
To explore alternatives during an April 10 work session, the City Council asked Rohr to compile a report outlining the frequency of fire and rescue calls to Mason so it could better understand costs involved.
In his April 12 report, Rohr said there were 418 fire and rescue calls made exclusively by the university in 2011.
“This equates to approximately 8 percent of the total calls run by the fire department,” he wrote. “Two-hundred-eighty-four calls were EMS-related ... 88 calls were suppression related (fires, alarms and hazmat incidents) and 46 calls were other incidents (elevator incidents and public service calls).”
At Fire Station No. 3 — the station nearest to Mason — at least 25 percent of all EMS and fire calls served by the station in 2011 came from the university, Rohr said.
Calculating the Mason calls against the total number of calls within the city for the same year — and contrasting that against the fire and rescue department’s 2011 operating budget — Sisson said the city estimates the Mason calls cost the city between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
George Mason University Chief of Staff J. Thomas Hennessey Jr. thinks that number is too high.
“That’s not even close to what we think,” he said. “The county provides a lot more support for us than does the city and they don’t estimate nearly that,” he said. Hennessey declined further comment.
But Dan Schmidt, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue spokesman, said the only time county firefighters would ever respond to a Mason call would be to assist Fairfax City fire and rescue squads.
“It’s their call, we only assist,” he said. “Fairfax City only has two fire stations, so some of their calls need more equipment and that’s the only time we would assist. … I think [Mason] might be confused and not really know what they’re saying. They probably see a lot of Fairfax equipment that’s intermingled with the city’s — and we might even bring more equipment than the city brings, because they only have so much — but the only reason we would ever be there would be to augment [the Fairfax City] fire department.”
Since 2011, Mason has provided Fairfax City with $150,000 per year to help out with its fire and rescue service calls, according to the university. It also recently has agreed to raise that amount to $200,000 starting in fiscal 2013.
“The university provides the city with $200,000 a year and that is something that we are not obligated to do at all,” university spokesman Dan Walsch said. “It is something that most institutions of higher learning — certainly within Virginia — do not do with their local fire departments.”
But Sisson maintained the fire department cannot afford a potential seven-figure annual deficit in terms of services it provides to the university.
By its own account, the city fire department is in dire financial straits and in desperate need of additional funding.
For the past three years, Rohr has asked the City Council for money to conduct a feasibility study for renovating Fire Station No. 33, which was built in 1979 and is showing its age.
Rohr said the station, located at the intersection of Fairfax Boulevard and Plantation Parkway, is no longer adequate for the needs of its firefighters.
“We simply are outgrowing it,” he has said in numerous requests for funding to the council. “There are areas of the sleeping quarters that have no sprinkler system in place, and it lacks a sufficient diesel-exhaust system.”
Because of a lack of storage space, equipment is housed in truck bays, preventing their optimal use, Rohr said.
“We have drive-through bays, but because of equipment storage needs, our trucks are forced to back in,” he told the city planning commission in 2010.
Earlier this year, in the fire department’s proposed fiscal 2013 Capital Improvement Projects request, Rohr estimated a feasibility study to examine whether the station could be renovated would cost about $50,000.
“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but we were not able to approve that study and get it into the budget for next year,” Sisson said on April 27. “All jurisdictions have been pressed financially for the last four to five years, and we are no different. We have had to explore all expenditures and potential revenues, and reassess many of our partnerships. The cost of fire and rescue calls to [Mason] is one that certainly seems to show a high level of disproportionality.”
Shamus Ian Fatzinger/Fairfax County Times At Fire Station No. 3 in Fairfax City, about 25 percent of all calls served by the station in 2011 came from George Mason University.
Attachments:
About $1M per year spent responding to university calls; city considering reducing staffing requirements
by Gregg MacDonald, Fairfax County Times
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20120503/NEWS/705039763/-1/fairfax-city-fire-department-can-t-afford-to-serve-george-mason&template=fairfaxTimes
A proposal by the city of Fairfax to cut some minimum staffing requirements for its firefighters has sparked a potential conflict between the city and nearby George Mason University.
According to the city, its fire and rescue squads spend as much as about $1.2 million servicing the university each year, while only receiving a fraction of that amount in return.
“We recommend a reduction of the minimum staffing level policy of the fire department with regard to the city’s truck (ladder) company,” City Manager Robert L. Sisson wrote in his recommended fiscal 2013 budget memo to the City Council. “This would reduce daily minimum staffing on the truck company from four personnel to three personnel.
“This change to the [fire department] minimum staffing policy will allow overtime expenses to be reduced by approximately $212,000.”
In a subsequent presentation before the City Council, Fairfax City Fire Chief Dave Rohr voiced his concerns with the possible reduction.
“I thoroughly understand the fiscal situation that you are in,” he said. “It is a difficult situation for all of us, but the decision in my eyes cannot be made for fiscal reasons. It is a life safety issue, for the citizens and the firefighters alike.”
To explore alternatives during an April 10 work session, the City Council asked Rohr to compile a report outlining the frequency of fire and rescue calls to Mason so it could better understand costs involved.
In his April 12 report, Rohr said there were 418 fire and rescue calls made exclusively by the university in 2011.
“This equates to approximately 8 percent of the total calls run by the fire department,” he wrote. “Two-hundred-eighty-four calls were EMS-related ... 88 calls were suppression related (fires, alarms and hazmat incidents) and 46 calls were other incidents (elevator incidents and public service calls).”
At Fire Station No. 3 — the station nearest to Mason — at least 25 percent of all EMS and fire calls served by the station in 2011 came from the university, Rohr said.
Calculating the Mason calls against the total number of calls within the city for the same year — and contrasting that against the fire and rescue department’s 2011 operating budget — Sisson said the city estimates the Mason calls cost the city between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
George Mason University Chief of Staff J. Thomas Hennessey Jr. thinks that number is too high.
“That’s not even close to what we think,” he said. “The county provides a lot more support for us than does the city and they don’t estimate nearly that,” he said. Hennessey declined further comment.
But Dan Schmidt, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue spokesman, said the only time county firefighters would ever respond to a Mason call would be to assist Fairfax City fire and rescue squads.
“It’s their call, we only assist,” he said. “Fairfax City only has two fire stations, so some of their calls need more equipment and that’s the only time we would assist. … I think [Mason] might be confused and not really know what they’re saying. They probably see a lot of Fairfax equipment that’s intermingled with the city’s — and we might even bring more equipment than the city brings, because they only have so much — but the only reason we would ever be there would be to augment [the Fairfax City] fire department.”
Since 2011, Mason has provided Fairfax City with $150,000 per year to help out with its fire and rescue service calls, according to the university. It also recently has agreed to raise that amount to $200,000 starting in fiscal 2013.
“The university provides the city with $200,000 a year and that is something that we are not obligated to do at all,” university spokesman Dan Walsch said. “It is something that most institutions of higher learning — certainly within Virginia — do not do with their local fire departments.”
But Sisson maintained the fire department cannot afford a potential seven-figure annual deficit in terms of services it provides to the university.
By its own account, the city fire department is in dire financial straits and in desperate need of additional funding.
For the past three years, Rohr has asked the City Council for money to conduct a feasibility study for renovating Fire Station No. 33, which was built in 1979 and is showing its age.
Rohr said the station, located at the intersection of Fairfax Boulevard and Plantation Parkway, is no longer adequate for the needs of its firefighters.
“We simply are outgrowing it,” he has said in numerous requests for funding to the council. “There are areas of the sleeping quarters that have no sprinkler system in place, and it lacks a sufficient diesel-exhaust system.”
Because of a lack of storage space, equipment is housed in truck bays, preventing their optimal use, Rohr said.
“We have drive-through bays, but because of equipment storage needs, our trucks are forced to back in,” he told the city planning commission in 2010.
Earlier this year, in the fire department’s proposed fiscal 2013 Capital Improvement Projects request, Rohr estimated a feasibility study to examine whether the station could be renovated would cost about $50,000.
“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but we were not able to approve that study and get it into the budget for next year,” Sisson said on April 27. “All jurisdictions have been pressed financially for the last four to five years, and we are no different. We have had to explore all expenditures and potential revenues, and reassess many of our partnerships. The cost of fire and rescue calls to [Mason] is one that certainly seems to show a high level of disproportionality.”
Shamus Ian Fatzinger/Fairfax County Times At Fire Station No. 3 in Fairfax City, about 25 percent of all calls served by the station in 2011 came from George Mason University.
Attachments:
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Gordon Blvd
()
Date: May 05, 2012 08:09AM
geez, just call Company 32, Patriots 250-8900
or maybe 34 - 703-591-0273
or maybe 34 - 703-591-0273
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Oscar the Hot Dog
()
Date: May 05, 2012 08:10AM
I hope Mason students can rally around this as they did behind the black attacker of the white girl in the study room and arrange a campus-wide boycott of off-campus establishments within the Fairfax City limits.
Threatening GMU's population with death by fire isn't a great way for Fairfax City elected officials to extract money from its residents no matter where they live. Any official threatening that is showing a significant lapse in judgement.
Threatening GMU's population with death by fire isn't a great way for Fairfax City elected officials to extract money from its residents no matter where they live. Any official threatening that is showing a significant lapse in judgement.
Firefighter's Thoughts on Reduced Staffing
Posted by:
Sparky the Fire Dog
()
Date: May 11, 2012 05:07AM
Firefighter's Thoughts on Reduced Staffing
City of Fairfax Professional Firefighters and Paramedics
Craig A. Evans.
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:41 pm
http://fairfaxcity.patch.com/blog_posts/firefighters-thoughts-on-reduced-staffing
The reduction of minimum staffing from 4 to 3 persons on Truck 403 is against the recommendations of both the fire chief and the City of Fairfax Professional Firefighters and Paramedics. This is a complex issue that affects the safety of both the citizens, as well as, the firefighters. I will attempt to explain a few of the problems created by the decision to reduce staffing, as well as, the problem with tieing this staffing with additional funding from George Mason University.
I will begin with soliciting George Mason University for fire department services. There are many problems with reducing the staffing on Truck 403 to three persons pending additional funding by George Mason University. To understand this you must first understand the mutual-aid agreements with surrounding jurisdictions. The City of Fairfax's fire services are part of an automatic mutual aid agreement with Fairfax County, as well as, other nearby jurisdictions. Under this agreement the closest emergency vehicle will be sent to any given emergency. Each fire truck and ambulance has a GPS vehicle locator. When you call 911 the closest vehicles available will be sent to the emergency regardless of their affiliation. As George Mason University is located very close to the City of Fairfax our emergency resources are first to be sent to any emergency on the campus. We are also closer to certain county locations than the nearest Fairfax County station. Just as Fairfax County has a fire station closer to some city addresses than the City of Fairfax. The fire departments and municipalities in the region all offer advanced medical care and share the responsibility of protecting the citizens of the region. This is very important for the citizens of the City of Fairfax because the city’s fire department does not have the resources to handle a house fire on its own. When you call 911 and say your house is on fire the closest 7 fire trucks, as well as, emergency medical and command vehicles will respond. Each one of these vehicles has a very specific job to do in order to saves lives and property. The City of Fairfax staffs 3 fire trucks. As you can see, without automatic mutual-aid agreements the city would not have the resources needed to safely and efficiently put out your house fire and rescue your family.
Along with the issues during a fire which I described in the article dated March 29 about reduced staffing, another very serious problem with this reduction of staffing arises during medical emergencies. When fire station 3 is closest to a serious medical emergency such as a heart attack the problem begins. When this occurs Foam Engine 403 and Medic 403 will respond to the call. Foam Engine 403 has four persons on board, one of which is a paramedic. This is a standard response to this type of emergency. This provides 6 highly trained personnel to deliver advanced medical care and carry the patient out of the house and into the ambulance. Now imagine another serious medical emergency occurs a few minutes later. This happens on a regular basis. Now Truck 403 is the closest fire truck and an ambulance must be sent from farther away. Truck 403 will arrive with only three people to begin emergency treatment. With having only three persons on board a paramedic may or may not be on the truck. Regardless of whether the first emergency occurs at George Mason University or your neighbor's house right next door, the problems with reducing staffing levels remain the same. Staffing levels should not be tied to increased revenue from George Mason University or any other recipient of our existing mutual-aid agreements.
If you have any questions regarding this issue fell free to contact me anytime atcraigevans013@gmail.com or call me at 540-551-2537. The City of Fairfax Professional Firefighters and Paramedics places four person staffing, which directly affects the safety of the citizens and our firefighters as our number one priority above all else.
City of Fairfax Professional Firefighters and Paramedics
Craig A. Evans.
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:41 pm
http://fairfaxcity.patch.com/blog_posts/firefighters-thoughts-on-reduced-staffing
The reduction of minimum staffing from 4 to 3 persons on Truck 403 is against the recommendations of both the fire chief and the City of Fairfax Professional Firefighters and Paramedics. This is a complex issue that affects the safety of both the citizens, as well as, the firefighters. I will attempt to explain a few of the problems created by the decision to reduce staffing, as well as, the problem with tieing this staffing with additional funding from George Mason University.
I will begin with soliciting George Mason University for fire department services. There are many problems with reducing the staffing on Truck 403 to three persons pending additional funding by George Mason University. To understand this you must first understand the mutual-aid agreements with surrounding jurisdictions. The City of Fairfax's fire services are part of an automatic mutual aid agreement with Fairfax County, as well as, other nearby jurisdictions. Under this agreement the closest emergency vehicle will be sent to any given emergency. Each fire truck and ambulance has a GPS vehicle locator. When you call 911 the closest vehicles available will be sent to the emergency regardless of their affiliation. As George Mason University is located very close to the City of Fairfax our emergency resources are first to be sent to any emergency on the campus. We are also closer to certain county locations than the nearest Fairfax County station. Just as Fairfax County has a fire station closer to some city addresses than the City of Fairfax. The fire departments and municipalities in the region all offer advanced medical care and share the responsibility of protecting the citizens of the region. This is very important for the citizens of the City of Fairfax because the city’s fire department does not have the resources to handle a house fire on its own. When you call 911 and say your house is on fire the closest 7 fire trucks, as well as, emergency medical and command vehicles will respond. Each one of these vehicles has a very specific job to do in order to saves lives and property. The City of Fairfax staffs 3 fire trucks. As you can see, without automatic mutual-aid agreements the city would not have the resources needed to safely and efficiently put out your house fire and rescue your family.
Along with the issues during a fire which I described in the article dated March 29 about reduced staffing, another very serious problem with this reduction of staffing arises during medical emergencies. When fire station 3 is closest to a serious medical emergency such as a heart attack the problem begins. When this occurs Foam Engine 403 and Medic 403 will respond to the call. Foam Engine 403 has four persons on board, one of which is a paramedic. This is a standard response to this type of emergency. This provides 6 highly trained personnel to deliver advanced medical care and carry the patient out of the house and into the ambulance. Now imagine another serious medical emergency occurs a few minutes later. This happens on a regular basis. Now Truck 403 is the closest fire truck and an ambulance must be sent from farther away. Truck 403 will arrive with only three people to begin emergency treatment. With having only three persons on board a paramedic may or may not be on the truck. Regardless of whether the first emergency occurs at George Mason University or your neighbor's house right next door, the problems with reducing staffing levels remain the same. Staffing levels should not be tied to increased revenue from George Mason University or any other recipient of our existing mutual-aid agreements.
If you have any questions regarding this issue fell free to contact me anytime atcraigevans013@gmail.com or call me at 540-551-2537. The City of Fairfax Professional Firefighters and Paramedics places four person staffing, which directly affects the safety of the citizens and our firefighters as our number one priority above all else.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Platinum service is expensive
()
Date: May 11, 2012 06:53AM
Firefighters and paramedics provide a valuable life & death service. We are all thankful for their dedication.
Frankly we are spoiled in Northern Virginia. When a 911 call comes in TWO vehicles with multiple crews are always dispatched -- a firetruck plus an ambulance. Frankly this is platinum plated highly expensive service that is probably unnecessary -- one vehicle and one crew will do 98% of the time. If a 1st vehicle encounters a larger than expected situation it is easy for them to summon another vehicle and crew in minutes.
If we are going to have the platinum service we have to pay for this premium service. That is the key issue. Almost all fire fighters and paramedics in our area are paid career professionals with benefits and retirements. The cost to provide this service to GMU far exceeds the revenue that is provided back to Fairfax City to cover paid personnel.
One solution is for GMU to raise the student fee a couple of bucks per person and pay that amount to Fairfax City. Or GMU needs to fund and staff its own rescue squad with student paramedic volunteers for on campus responses. Fairfax City coudl still provide fire response, and fire calls to 911 are much less frequent than medical calls.
Frankly we are spoiled in Northern Virginia. When a 911 call comes in TWO vehicles with multiple crews are always dispatched -- a firetruck plus an ambulance. Frankly this is platinum plated highly expensive service that is probably unnecessary -- one vehicle and one crew will do 98% of the time. If a 1st vehicle encounters a larger than expected situation it is easy for them to summon another vehicle and crew in minutes.
If we are going to have the platinum service we have to pay for this premium service. That is the key issue. Almost all fire fighters and paramedics in our area are paid career professionals with benefits and retirements. The cost to provide this service to GMU far exceeds the revenue that is provided back to Fairfax City to cover paid personnel.
One solution is for GMU to raise the student fee a couple of bucks per person and pay that amount to Fairfax City. Or GMU needs to fund and staff its own rescue squad with student paramedic volunteers for on campus responses. Fairfax City coudl still provide fire response, and fire calls to 911 are much less frequent than medical calls.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Oscar the Hot Dog
()
Date: May 11, 2012 08:27AM
Platinum service is expensive Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The cost to provide this service to GMU far exceeds
> the revenue that is provided back to Fairfax City
> to cover paid personnel.
No solution will be fair or workable until the above atittude is corrected. There are MANY establishments in Fairfax City that would need to close if the GMU student body dissapeared. Those businesses provide jobs that improve the economy and tax revenue to the city. It isn't only about raw dollars donated to Fairfax City from GMU so they perform firefighting duties within their city limits, there are tons of other ways the GMU community assists the city financially.
The prior suggestion was for the GMU student body to rally itself around this issue as it did behind the black guy who attacked the girl in the study room. Organize a boycott of all Fairfax City establishments for one month. That will punish the wrong people, but buiness owners will be heard more than students.
-------------------------------------------------------
> The cost to provide this service to GMU far exceeds
> the revenue that is provided back to Fairfax City
> to cover paid personnel.
No solution will be fair or workable until the above atittude is corrected. There are MANY establishments in Fairfax City that would need to close if the GMU student body dissapeared. Those businesses provide jobs that improve the economy and tax revenue to the city. It isn't only about raw dollars donated to Fairfax City from GMU so they perform firefighting duties within their city limits, there are tons of other ways the GMU community assists the city financially.
The prior suggestion was for the GMU student body to rally itself around this issue as it did behind the black guy who attacked the girl in the study room. Organize a boycott of all Fairfax City establishments for one month. That will punish the wrong people, but buiness owners will be heard more than students.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Brian
()
Date: May 11, 2012 09:12AM
No one wants anyone harmed due to inadequate fire protection. Having said that, Mason administrators don't give a F about its neighbors, judging from the monstrous electronic sign blocking drivers' sightline to traffic signal on W/B Braddock, the jammed traffic when classes dismiss, or taking lodging, restaurant and convention/meeting business away from local merchants via Mason Inn. So the solution is for Mason to run and pay for its own FD, and stop dumping its problems onto its neighbors.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
justsayin
()
Date: May 11, 2012 09:29AM
Oh please, the sign is annoying as shit but the students flock to area restaurants and nightlife all the time.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Gordon Blvd
()
Date: May 11, 2012 10:10AM
@Brian - you are so full of shit it's not even funny - Mason admin has been working with neighbors for years. Kids from the surrounding schools get invited to go to events on campus all the time. And Mason Inn stealing business? Aint another Hotel between the City of Fairfax and the COUNTY FUCKING LINE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!?!?!?! Solution is to make sure that EVERYBODY is safe. Period.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Hay Zeus
()
Date: May 11, 2012 10:44AM
There are 10's of thousands of students who are residing at mason presumably not paying local taxes to fund ems services.
I wouldnt doubt it if most of the calls to GMU are a result of some college antic. Its not fair to drain the EMS resources from tax paying residents of Fairfax City.
I'm sure can find it somewhere in its budget to pay a bit more. Someone in their Econ or Math department is surely smart enough to come up with a payment system based on number of resident, non resident, faculty and # of calls. Its major univeristy responsible for teaching people how to solve problems.
I wouldnt doubt it if most of the calls to GMU are a result of some college antic. Its not fair to drain the EMS resources from tax paying residents of Fairfax City.
I'm sure can find it somewhere in its budget to pay a bit more. Someone in their Econ or Math department is surely smart enough to come up with a payment system based on number of resident, non resident, faculty and # of calls. Its major univeristy responsible for teaching people how to solve problems.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
perspective
()
Date: May 11, 2012 10:46AM
Does anyone know what Mason charges to make the Patriot Center available for so many high school graduations? And what that compares to what the schools would have to arrange if the Patriot Center wasn't available for that? I assume they would use their sports fields but indoors is much nicer for photos and such.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
rumbleMouse
()
Date: May 11, 2012 11:43AM
What a great opportunity for GMU to practice the libertarian economics they teach.
It could go several ways. They could gasp!! pay for the protection they want.
Or they could import a Fire Science concentration from Nova and grow their own protection. But ... have you ever priced turnout suits let alone fire suppression engines? The students would have to perform myriad $20 blow jobs to fund buying a fire engine.
Or they could build fire resistant buildings. Or they could add a "Fire Protection" fee to every student at registration as they do other fees.
How about a little practice what you preach GMU.
It could go several ways. They could gasp!! pay for the protection they want.
Or they could import a Fire Science concentration from Nova and grow their own protection. But ... have you ever priced turnout suits let alone fire suppression engines? The students would have to perform myriad $20 blow jobs to fund buying a fire engine.
Or they could build fire resistant buildings. Or they could add a "Fire Protection" fee to every student at registration as they do other fees.
How about a little practice what you preach GMU.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Hay Zeus
()
Date: May 11, 2012 12:02PM
its almost laughable that Mason has an issue with this. Anyone who has ever had to pay an ems service fee knows thats its a few thousand dollars. The last one i saw might have been 5K.
If we assume the average cost is $2500 per call and Mason had 418 calls then thats about $1,045,000 in services (2500 x 418).
Based on what i have expierenced and know from other people $2500 is in the ball park for an ems charge.
Why is this is so difficult for bureaucratic types???
If we assume the average cost is $2500 per call and Mason had 418 calls then thats about $1,045,000 in services (2500 x 418).
Based on what i have expierenced and know from other people $2500 is in the ball park for an ems charge.
Why is this is so difficult for bureaucratic types???
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Gordon Blvd
()
Date: May 11, 2012 12:12PM
y'all do know that at the end of the day, since Mason is a PUBLIC SCHOOL that we the Virgina State taxpayer are the ones that will be footing the bill no matter who answers the f**king 911 calls, right? Y'all do realize this.....................
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Hay Zeus
()
Date: May 11, 2012 12:20PM
Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> y'all do know that at the end of the day, since
> Mason is a PUBLIC SCHOOL that we the Virgina
> State taxpayer are the ones that will be footing
> the bill no matter who answers the f**king 911
> calls, right? Y'all do realize
> this.....................
Yeah but its also Federally funded too via student loans so lets spread the cost out a little, ya know?
-------------------------------------------------------
> y'all do know that at the end of the day, since
> Mason is a PUBLIC SCHOOL that we the Virgina
> State taxpayer are the ones that will be footing
> the bill no matter who answers the f**king 911
> calls, right? Y'all do realize
> this.....................
Yeah but its also Federally funded too via student loans so lets spread the cost out a little, ya know?
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Gordon Blvd
()
Date: May 11, 2012 12:25PM
is Mason actually in the city or the county?
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Hay Zeus
()
Date: May 11, 2012 12:28PM
Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> is Mason actually in the city or the county?
If someone else asked that question you'd tear them a new one with your nastiness and attatch some google gif demonstrating how to use google maps
-------------------------------------------------------
> is Mason actually in the city or the county?
If someone else asked that question you'd tear them a new one with your nastiness and attatch some google gif demonstrating how to use google maps
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Gordon Blvd
()
Date: May 11, 2012 12:36PM
yep. I never try to tear someone down without lending a hand to help them back up...............
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Gordon Blvd
()
Date: May 11, 2012 12:38PM
ok, so county it is. Then yeah County should take over the situation if city personnel cant handle the job
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2012 12:38PM by Gordon Blvd.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/11/2012 12:38PM by Gordon Blvd.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Sparky GMU Campus
()
Date: May 12, 2012 01:52AM
This has nothing to do with Fairfax City not being able to handle the job. This is about an entity within the City causing a disproportionate share of EMS and Fire calls not paying its fair share for all of the personnel and equipment that have to frequently respond to requests for service. GMU needs to be a good neighbor and pay up (which means higher fees to the student tuition).
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
not a solution
()
Date: May 12, 2012 03:42AM
Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ok, so county it is. Then yeah County should take
> over the situation if city personnel cant handle
> the job
No thats not how EMS works and thats not how it shouldnt work. They dont respond by what county or district you live in nor should they or would you want them too. They respond by who ever is closest.
For what its worth fairfax city is completely bsing with these numbers. They may charge a million for their responses to mason but the fact is the cost to them is very minimal. The fire fighters are getting paid regardless and dont get bonuses for calls. Their only real expense is gas and time and if they have no other calls time doesnt matter, theyre just trying to pad their budget for other short comings.
That said mason can and should pay more for the protection as the university grows out of mason funds. The school has tons of money and is growing fast and EMS could use the money. But by design EMS and police are by definition supposed to be money losing organizations to provide protection to the citizens so none of this should be a surpise
-------------------------------------------------------
> ok, so county it is. Then yeah County should take
> over the situation if city personnel cant handle
> the job
No thats not how EMS works and thats not how it shouldnt work. They dont respond by what county or district you live in nor should they or would you want them too. They respond by who ever is closest.
For what its worth fairfax city is completely bsing with these numbers. They may charge a million for their responses to mason but the fact is the cost to them is very minimal. The fire fighters are getting paid regardless and dont get bonuses for calls. Their only real expense is gas and time and if they have no other calls time doesnt matter, theyre just trying to pad their budget for other short comings.
That said mason can and should pay more for the protection as the university grows out of mason funds. The school has tons of money and is growing fast and EMS could use the money. But by design EMS and police are by definition supposed to be money losing organizations to provide protection to the citizens so none of this should be a surpise
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Client 9 from Outerspace
()
Date: May 12, 2012 07:58AM
I'm sure GMU provides more positive economic impact to cover F&R protection than FFX City is disclosing.
I imagine the city's hotels generate a large amount of hotel taxes as a result of guests staying there for GMU related activities.
The city also imposes a 4 percent meals tax. How much is that "revenue" generated from GMU students and staff?
I imagine the city's hotels generate a large amount of hotel taxes as a result of guests staying there for GMU related activities.
The city also imposes a 4 percent meals tax. How much is that "revenue" generated from GMU students and staff?
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
oldwolf53
()
Date: May 13, 2012 11:28AM
Decades ago Fairfax City made the conscious choice to become indepdent of Fairfax County. That means that they would have to have their own fire and police departments. The fire department is part of a regional response system that includes all local Virginia and Maryland counties. That means that the Fairfax City Fire Department is, in may cases, first due at a county address, including GMU (Fairfax County units also respond into the city per the agreement). What this does not mean is that they can expect any county resident or business to pay extra for that service. And, having lived in the city before, this is typical city politics. Rather than ask the citizns of Fairfax City to pay for the services by increasing taxes, they opt for blaming the county for havig to cut life saving services. This is just an excuse for the largely Republican City Council to not raise taxes. That certainly is their choice, but they shouldn't try and burden the residents of Fairfax County for their political choice. Of course the city can always choose to come back into the fold of Fairfax County.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
George Johnson
()
Date: May 18, 2012 06:38AM
Has Stephen Fuller ever done a study on the economic impact of George Mason University on Fairfax City? Good and bad.
I don't see a lot more businesses in Fairfax City than say 10 -15 years ago?
I don't see a lot more businesses in Fairfax City than say 10 -15 years ago?
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Gordon Blvd
()
Date: May 18, 2012 07:40AM
@George-then I'd suggest you look around. TONS more business in ALL parts of the city in the last 15 - just one example is Old Town - was a scummy mess at the turn of the century (that is soooo weird to say) and now it's actually a place you can go at night and have a bite to eat and hang out a little.
@old-it's good to know that all the fire depts work together.......
@client - no fooling, right? You damn well know GMU Students are a nice little chunk of change going into the Fairfax City coffers..........
and to anybody who thinks that one group of citizens should pay more for EMERGENCY SERVICES than any other group of citizens for WHATEVER REASON:FUCK YOU
@old-it's good to know that all the fire depts work together.......
@client - no fooling, right? You damn well know GMU Students are a nice little chunk of change going into the Fairfax City coffers..........
and to anybody who thinks that one group of citizens should pay more for EMERGENCY SERVICES than any other group of citizens for WHATEVER REASON:FUCK YOU
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
just saying
()
Date: May 18, 2012 08:36AM
"TONS more business in ALL parts of the city in the last 15 - just one example is Old Town"
yes indeed the Old Town project has been immense success!
and Fairfax City now has 2 Title Max locations. so proud
tons of empty office space. although it looks like the bottom floor for the spec office building at the corner of layton hall and university finally has a tenant after only what 3-4 years
Mason Inn and MasonVale both have little impact on similar Fairfax City businesses. And more and more dorms on campus. Kind of a little eff u to Fairfax City and traffic impact from GMU
yes indeed the Old Town project has been immense success!
and Fairfax City now has 2 Title Max locations. so proud
tons of empty office space. although it looks like the bottom floor for the spec office building at the corner of layton hall and university finally has a tenant after only what 3-4 years
Mason Inn and MasonVale both have little impact on similar Fairfax City businesses. And more and more dorms on campus. Kind of a little eff u to Fairfax City and traffic impact from GMU
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
GiveItUp
()
Date: May 18, 2012 08:38AM
If Fairfax City can't afford to provide basic government services then the whole city should be taken over by Fairfax County and the city dissolved.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Gordon Blvd
()
Date: May 18, 2012 09:36AM
@Give - theyd have to vote themselves into dissolution. I know it's happened in the last 10 years or so somewhere in the Commonwealth, some town (that I think was the county seat as well) gave it up..........
@just saying - most ppl enter Mason thru the county on Braddock or 123, or else use the CUE system from Metro. All the new dorms face those entrances so no, not much traffic impact to the city as much as the county would deal with........unless of course it's students (and I guess faculty and staff too) using Fairfax City businesses. You saying that they can pay city sales tax, just cant use the roads? Man, oh man.................
p.s. not to nitpick (cause yeah, you never do that Gordon LoLz) Mason Inn is the only hotel south of of the city limits until you get to Prince William County, ok? There's only one other motel even EXISTS this side of the county - 95 to 28 so dont feed us this crap that it's hurting the city so much.
@just saying - most ppl enter Mason thru the county on Braddock or 123, or else use the CUE system from Metro. All the new dorms face those entrances so no, not much traffic impact to the city as much as the county would deal with........unless of course it's students (and I guess faculty and staff too) using Fairfax City businesses. You saying that they can pay city sales tax, just cant use the roads? Man, oh man.................
p.s. not to nitpick (cause yeah, you never do that Gordon LoLz) Mason Inn is the only hotel south of of the city limits until you get to Prince William County, ok? There's only one other motel even EXISTS this side of the county - 95 to 28 so dont feed us this crap that it's hurting the city so much.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
just saying
()
Date: May 20, 2012 09:06PM
Does George Mason University own Mason Inn or a developer
How about Mason Vale owned by GMU or a developer
Are the new dorms owned by GMU or a developer
How about Mason Vale owned by GMU or a developer
Are the new dorms owned by GMU or a developer
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
retired firechief
()
Date: May 24, 2012 09:25AM
Having worked both for the county fire and rescue dept and GMU Public safety/ Police Dept. The best thing the University can do is what I recommended 11 years ago back in 2000 and 2001. Start a student staffed fire and rescue company on campus and offer, again like they used to, fire science courses and ems classes for a college degree. There are a number of universities and colloeges that have campus run fire and ems depts. With the large on campus population during the fall winter and spring, this would be an ideal situation to cut costs for the city and increase education at GMU, of course they woukd need to have Chief Lynch, chief of GMU police do double duty as fire chief, but then again it's hard enough to get him to go to police emergecies. Or hire a real fire safety officer and fire chief.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
fc10
()
Date: May 24, 2012 10:28AM
It is most certainly with in city limits all of the Fairfax campus is, except part off Braddock Rd by Zion Dr, there is a small corner lot that GMU owns, that may be in county, gmu pd can give tickets or make arrests off any rd boardering gmu property so watch it they can get you there.
Re: Fairfax City fire department ‘can’t afford’ to serve George Mason
Posted by:
Gordon Blvd
()
Date: May 24, 2012 02:09PM
@fc - sorry son, yr VERY wrong. University is ALL specifically in the County NOT the City. The City of Fairfax border is on the northern side of that chunk of University Drive. Everything SOUTH of that stretch of University Dr is NOT the City of Fairfax. It's always been like that. When University used to go down and into that neighborhood, the city limits were AFTER that curve when the road turned into the neighborhood. Same with 123 - you will notice the city limits are AFTER the University light when you are heading Northbound.