BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
MASON -- Over weekly lunches, Mason Fire Chief William Goldfeder and Deerfield Township Chief William Kramer have spent the last month dividing the assets of the Mason-Deerfield Joint Fire District, as each chief works to build a separate department.
A draft agreement on the allocation of the district's equipment has been developed and is expected to be finalized by the end of July, officials said.
"I believe we're close on an agreement covering everything owned by the district," Chief Kramer said.
"Our primary focus has been filling the needs of both communities." The joint fire district will be dissolved when the township and Mason establish fire departments in October.
Based on assessed tax value, the township is to get 55 percent of the assets, and the city gets 45 percent -- a requirement that has led to creative compromises between the chiefs, Chief Kramer said. The department's rolling stock of engines, trucks and other vehicles will be divided equally.
So, to compensate the township fairly, all fire gear, breathing apparatus and a costly infrared imaging device will go to Deerfield, Chief Kramer said.
The township also will get two-thirds of the furnishings from three stations operated by the district.
"We did our very best to divide things equitably," Chief Kramer said.
Disposition of the three fire stations is still up for discussion, Mason City Manager Scot Lahrmer said.
The agreement on the equipment has been endorsed by Mason council. Deerfield trustees are expected to support it later this month. "Our vote of confidence is with Chief Goldfeder and he's going to recommend this type of equipment split and we're going to support him on this," Mr. Lahrmer said.
"We put it in the hands of the fire chief to resolve. We certainly don't want to undermine the fire chief. He knows the equipment best."
Chief Goldfeder is out town and could not be reached for comment. Officials from both communities have relied on the chiefs to make allocations fairly, a procedure that has worked.
"I think that it's been a very good process," Mason Mayor Betty Davis said. "Those are the people who have the knowledge that is necessary to make the asset division and we trust in their judgments."
Some equipment was divided based on need in a particular community.
The rescue truck is going to Mason because of its urban centers, while the tanker truck will go to Deerfield because of larger fields in its northern area.
But equipment from both departments will automatically respond to certain alarms in either area, Chief Kramer said.
"It seems like things ended up where they're supposed to be," he said.
