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The formation of a new emergency services district to cover West Orange and Pinehurst could be on the November ballot.

 

ESD No. 5 would provide fire fighting, fire prevention, search and rescue and emergency medical services to the two cities. Those areas are currently covered by volunteer fire departments.

 

Orange County Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. Aug. 5 in the commissioners’ courtroom to consider the creation of the new ESD. The proposed district will encompass the entire city of West Orange including extraterritorial jurisdiction and the entire city of Pinehurst including all extraterritorial jurisdiction, according to OCC.

 

Orange County Judge John Gothia said officials with the two cities contacted  county officials with a petition to form the ESD. Orange County conducts elections hence the reason the two municipalities approached with the request.

 

If the issue gets final approval it will go to the voters on the Nov. 5 ballot. 

 

A benefit of establishing the ESD is that emergency services districts are a taxing entity with a tax base. This will allow the district to pay for firefighters and equipment. 

 

Gothia said the county does not have a stance on the issue either way but they have the responsibility to hold elections if the entity brings the proper documentation, which they did.