West Point, Utah
In the last 20 years, West Point, UT, has grown from a farming hamlet to a full-service suburb north of Salt Lake City with approximately 8,000 residents. Still, the mostly residential community did not have the sales tax revenue to fund its own ambulance and fire services, which were provided by adjacent cities. As the city grew, and hundreds of new homes were being built each year, there was a pressing need for the city to have its own fire department.
After conducting several studies, City Manager Richard “Rick” Davis formed a partnership with nearby Clearfield to form the North Davis Fire District. The fire district is a separate entity from the two cities; it has its own taxing authority and provides services to both communities. It would have cost West Point more than $1 million a year–67 percent of its $1.5 million general fund–to set up its own fire department with the level of service provided through the partnership. The partnership allowed West Point to save hundreds of thousands of dollars by sharing services with Clearfield. Thanks to the partnership, the estimated yearly cost is $300,000.
Creating the North Davis fire district helped West Point build its first-ever fire department in the downtown area next to city hall, doubled the number of staff on duty 24 hours a day for both communities, and reduced response times. With more ambulances, fire trucks, and emergency personnel, West Point and Clearfield can both respond to more emergencies and save lives.
Meet the Manager
