Author: FBCMUD 131

Cooperative effort with Fort Bend Emergency Services District #7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Simon VanDyk
Phone: (281) 832-6143
Email: PIO@fresnofire.com

Fresno, Texas, March 1st, 2020: Fresno Fire Department (Fresno Fire) has had the honor and pleasure of serving their community for over 64 years. These services have been provided as the subcontractor to Fort Bend County Emergency Services District #7 (FBCESD 7), serving over 30,000 residents within the district encompassing a 45 sq. mile area of eastern Fort Bend County.

Fresno Fire has evolved from a once purely-volunteer system to a fully-combination system with both paid and volunteer personnel. In a cooperative effort between Fresno Fire and FBCESD 7, both organizations have mutually agreed on a new service delivery model under the name Fort Bend County Emergency Services District #7 – Fresno Fire and Rescue to better reflect the true combination nature of the organization.

Starting at 00:00 on March 1, 2020, FBCESD 7 will become the service provider for fire protection services with very little outward impact to the community. Previous Fresno Fire personnel will be absorbed into FBCESD 7 and will conduct business as Fresno Fire to maintain the branding and familiar department name as the new branding and operational department title becomes more well-known. Both entities anticipate a seamless transition with no interruption in service delivery, nor change in staff, stations, or apparatus in the service area. All current contracts and mutual aid agreements will be honored until such time as they can be changed into the FBCESD 7 name. The result of the restructuring will be a more efficient delivery of services and public support to the community.

“This means that the administration, budgetary and day-to-day paperwork will be handled by the Commissioners. This will free Chief Bates up to run the Operations/Fire Suppression unencumbered by these duties and allow for the fire department to offer even better emergency services to the public.,” said FBCESD 7 Commissioner Ruston Hughes in a video outlining the restructuring.

The reorganization is fully supported by the management of both Fresno Fire and FBCESD 7; 100% of both paid and volunteer staff have accepted positions with the new entity. Fresno Fire and FBCESD 7 provide excellence in service to the district and are excited about the opportunity to continue working to improve service delivery as a single organization.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please call Fresno Fire PIO Simon VanDyk at (281) 832-6143, or email at pio@fresnofire.com. See the full announcement and short video at: https://fresnofiretx.com/blog/2020-03-02-fbesd7-reorganization-with-fresno-fire-department/.

Dear Residents:

February 26, 2020

Over $675 billion per year is allocated to states and localities for crucial federally funded programs. Some of these programs include:

• Title 1 Grants to Local Educational Agencies (ED)
• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and Housing Assistance Payments Programs (HUD)
• Head Start and Early Head Start (HHS)
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (HHS)
• Community Development Block Grants Program (HUD)

However, here in Fort Bend County, we are at risk of losing out on this important federal funding. Currently, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that only 81% of the Fort Bend County population is likely to respond to the 2020 Census. That means Fort Bend is at risk of losing out on an estimated $2.3 billion in federal funding if we don’t increase response rates. Fort Bend County is one of the most diverse and fastest growing populations in the nation — we simply cannot afford a Census undercount. We must ensure we have all available federal resources possible to serve our County population.

• English:
  “Watch out for your 2020 Census invitation in your mailbox. Fund your community’s schools and roads by responding to the Census in March.”
• Spanish:
  “Espere su invitación para el Censo 2020 en su buzón de correos. Para financiar totalmente las escuelas y carreteras en su comunidad participe en el Censo 2020 que comienza en marzo.”

If you would like to join the Fort Bend County Complete Count Committee, please contact FBC.Judge@fortbendcountytx.gov to discuss further. The Complete Count Committee is comprised of community members who are passionate about pooling their collective resources and networks to ensure we achieve the highest 2020 Census response rate possible!

Thank you,

KP George
Fort Bend County Judge