Dear Homeowners & Residents:
There is an important matter that we would like to make you aware of, as it directly affects the safety of our residents. The Mandeville Fire Department (St. Tammany Parish Fire Protection District #4) provides all emergency response, including fire, emergency medical services, hazmat, etc. to our neighborhood. According to the Mandeville Fire Department, in recent years the department has struggled to meet the minimum emergency response time of 5 minutes, 20 seconds in several of the most densely populated areas of Mandeville, one of those areas being Beau Chene. This is due to rapid population growth, high call volume and increased traffic in our area. When the first responders struggle to meet the minimum response time, it puts lives and property at increased risk.
On November 6, citizens will be asked to renew two existing millages, which currently fund all emergency response services in District #4, and support a new $75 parcel fee, which will fund the building, equipping and staffing of two additional fire stations in District #4. One of these stations will be placed off Hwy. 22 near Beau Chene so that first responders can better service our general area. It is important to note that the Mandeville Fire Department receives no additional funding from St. Tammany Parish or the City of Mandeville, so the millage renewals and parcel fee are critical to maintaining reliable emergency services in our community.
Please visit www.mandevillefire.com/timetorespond for more information about this important issue. Early voting week is Tuesday, October 23 – Tuesday, October 30.
Cristina Donovan
CAO