BAA leader hasn't heard of any rift

Editor,

It has come to my attention that some people are being told that there is a rift between the Big Arm Association and the Big Arm firefighters.

As one of the leaders, I must say I have heard of no rift.

May I, at this time, remind everyone that the Big Arm Association was developed after a need to keep the fire hall open in Big Arm. It was asked at the January 2006 meeting held at the La Riviera Restaurant what it would take to keep the Big Arm Fire Hall open and we were told by Fire Chief Tom Maloney that we needed to install bathrooms and showers and find volunteer fire fighters (at least six).

It was our first and foremost goal as a new association. We started receiving donations, we had fund raisers, we acquired a new 25-year renewable lease from the tribal authorities plus an extra parcel of property next to the fire hall for the septic system for the rural fire district. We also had 10 people sign up as volunteers and seven have been trained. We were told we couldn't get more volunteers at this time because there was not enough money in the budget to outfit them with pagers and personal protective equipment.

We have been waiting for the engineer's final specs and the lease to be signed by the rural fire board before we begin work. We hope to have the improvements done this fall.

As an organization, I will assure you, that we have no intentions of running or micromanaging the fire district or the fire department. The BAA does not participate in the decision making of the rural fire board. After the fire hall has been improved with what we promised, the BAA is interested in other projects and our efforts will be directed at new community endeavors.

I must clarify that as individuals, we have the right as taxpayers to question the decisions that are made by the trustees who are elected to represent the public. The trustees have the responsibility to provide the taxpayers with the best fire protection that our tax dollar can provide.

The fact that Alison Meslin is a member and leader of the BAA, should not conflict with her duty as a trustee. She has an elected responsibility to represent the taxpayer but her participation in the BAA should not be construed as the BAA trying to micromanage or run the fire district.

Alison represents the whole rural fire district and all the taxpayers of that district, not just Big Arm.

I hope this clarifies the position of the Big Arm Association and anyone who has further questions about what we are as an organization or who we are may call me at 406-849-5636.

Janice G. Phillips

BAA leader

Big Arm