KTRV Fox 12 Middleton Set to Hold Second Fire Levy

Middleton Set to Hold Second Fire Levy

Middleton, Idaho - The Middleton Rural Fire District will try a second time to pass a fire protection levy.

The proposal seemed to generate such little interest the first time that just 5 percent of people came out to vote, and majority of them said no to keeping their current fire protection.

"Some of those people simply didn't understand what we were asking for," said MIddleton Fire Chief Brad Trosky.

"With the economy, they're seeing the money going out and not coming in," said Middleton resident Kathie Cano, "and they just can't think that way with their own safety."

Trosky told Fox 12 Wednesday they need another chance.

"It became very clear that we didn't do a very good job of educating the public in what we were trying to accomplish," he said.

The roughly $1 million levy which, for the most part, pays Middleton's rural firefighters, was shot down during a very poor turnout on May 25.

"Basically, all that was to do was to continue the operations the way they are right now," said Trosky.

Everything changed for the department back in February of 2007. That's when a fire tore through Middleton High School.

Not long after flames were shooting out of the school's windows, the district put a temporary levy on the ballot, increasing staff and decreasing the chance of it happening again.

Back then, the public obliged.

"We live two miles out, and if the fire department isn't here and something happens, we have to wait for Star or Caldwell or Nampa to come in," said Cano.

If you look at Middleton High School today and you can hardly see a scratch or any sign of the fire that devastated it in 2007.

As it turns out, it's just as hard finding someone who was compelled or informed enough to vote in the levy.

We found two "yes" votes that were never counted.

"My dad called me because he was at work and said, 'hey you need to go vote for that and I just forgot -- didn't get around to it,'" said Joseph Zimmerman, who said he planned on voting, but didn't.

"I didn't even realize there was a vote until it was all over with," added Cano, who made clear she thinks the levy should pass.

Trosky said it was poor advertising, and a lack of understanding about the levy, that led to it's failure.

At a meeting Monday, where commissioners approved a second vote, Trosky said some people were even concerned the levy would double taxes while he said they won't change at all.

Cano said it can't happen again.

"They better get the word out there, or if something does happen they could lose everything," she said.

That next vote is on Aug. 3.

For more information about the levy, go to www.middletonfire.org.