E.S.D. No. 6 Wins Ladder Award
TRAVIS COUNTY ESD NO. 6 HONORED FOR LEADERSHIP
CONROE – Travis County Emergency Services District No. 6 (ESD6) was recognized for its statewide leadership Feb. 13 at the annual conference of the State Association of Fire and Emergency Services Districts (SAFE-D). ESD6 was named recipient of the annual Ladder Award, recognizing the district that most advanced the professionalism of all Texas emergency services districts.
ESD6 officials, cooperating with State Rep. Valinda Bolton, worked tirelessly during the 81st Legislature to give local residents the chance to provide additional resources for fire protection. “ESD6 led the charge,” observed SAFE-D President Don Grogg, “Emergency services districts were created to assure reliable funding for fire protection and emergency medical care.
Specifically, ESD6 worked to raise the visibility with the state legislature for the need to re-evaluate funding models for ESDs. Currently, funding and taxation laws are designed only to support rural population densities. In order to properly serve urban and emerging suburban densities, additional resources are required to ensure the response times necessary to save lives and property.
“ESD6 worked to make sure that, even in tough economic times, those services don’t falter.” Grogg continued, “Although the legislative effort fell short by two votes, ESD6 efforts raised awareness of emergency services districts at the Legislature, and those efforts will have profound effect as the discussion continues.”
Accepting the Ladder Award were ESD6 Commissioner Brad Ellis and Lake Travis Fire Rescue Chief Jim Linardos. Travis County ESD6 operates Lake Travis Fire Rescue (formerly the Hudson Bend Fire Department) as it provides fire protection and emergency medical first-response to residents in more than 200 square miles of western Travis County.
SAFE-D is the only organization dedicated to helping the men and women of emergency services districts as they protect the lives and property of Texans.