GILBERT — County residents living around Gilbert may soon have fire protection, after the town board voted 5-0 to put together a bid to provide fire service to county island residents.
In the past, Gilbert officials fought against providing fire protection coverage, citing concerns about spending taxpayer dollars on people who don't want to be residents of Gilbert.
Two years ago, the council filed a lawsuit against a law mandating they provide the coverage.
But council members changed their minds and agreed that trying to win the contract was the best route under a law allowing unincorporated residents to form their own fire district. There was no discussion Tuesday night prior to the council vote.
A new law was passed during the last legislative session allowing non-touching islands to form their own fire district. In Gilbert, there are about 1,400 lots that are not part of the town.
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Residents in the Gilbert county islands had been given the option to subscribe to Rural/Metro Fire Department prior to Oct. 1, 2006, when the private provider left.
The amount of tax charged to county island residents who are in the fire district is not known.
In December, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved the formation of the Gilbert island fire board. It becomes effective Jan. 18, during which time the town has 21 days to bid.
If the town does not bid to provide fire protection, the three-member county island fire board will seek outside bidders. If that fails, the town will be mandated to provide fire protection coverage.
