SANDPOINT — After recent levy failures, local fire district chief Jeff Armstrong utilized Tuesday’s Bonner County business meeting to continue efforts to extinguish accusations of mismanagement. 

In an effort to remain transparent, Armstrong spoke at the meeting to address the community’s reaction to the outcome of the May 20 election, in which voters denied a trio of property tax levy override requests brought forth by Sagle, Northside and Westside fire districts. 

“A lot of people have reached out to me since the levy, disappointed with the vote, disappointed with how it turned out. I'm not specifically disappointed with that, because I think the community needs to speak on fire protection, and their voice was heard,” said Armstrong. “I'm a little disappointed in some of the comments that are made and the misinformation on both sides of the issue, and I think we need to weed through that and figure out how to heal as a community.” 

Armstrong referred to several comments thrown toward the fire district, specifically calls to “live within your means.” To that comment, Armstrong notified the public of a recent Selkirk engine failure that will require a $20,000 fix, along with a 20% cost increase of insurance. The only thing in his control, said Armstrong, was personnel costs. He also brought up misinformation surrounding his intentions with volunteer firefighters.  

“I’m the first fire chief of three fire chiefs that has given any effort to the volunteer program. I haven't been out there breaking my arm, patting myself on the back about it, and maybe that's the problem. So, there's assumptions made that I'm not doing anything about volunteers, or that I'm trying to fire them, to run them all off,” said Armstrong before he shared that he expects to request $40,000 next month to outfit and train available volunteers.  

After explaining the upcoming expenses that the districts are facing, Armstrong announced that a July workshop will take place to discuss how all three districts will operate in the future.  

For those unable to attend the workshop, a town hall will also be available to discuss the decisions made at the workshop. Dates have yet to be set for the workshop or town hall.  

“If you don’t want answers, don’t show up. If you want to continue to talk into an echo chamber, don’t show up because you’re going to get answers. You’re going to get facts,” said Armstrong.