Dennis C. Ida, a former volunteer firefighter for the Goldman Fire Protection District, is seeking the sole seat up for election on April 5 to the district’s Board of Directors. However, he’ll have to defeat longtime member Frank R. Block who is seeking his second six-year term. Block also is a former volunteer firefighter for the district.
Board members are paid $50 per monthly meeting.
The district covers 35 square miles north of Hillsboro.
BLOCK, 65, lives at 4069 Sandy Church Road, in Hillsboro. He and his wife, Kitty, have six children and 21 grandchildren. He is a retired chief executive officer of the Love Basket Adoption Agency. He has a master’s degree in social work from St. LouisUniversity and is a licensed clinical social worker in Missouri. He was a volunteer firefighter for the district for 14 years. He is a member and past president and treasurer of the Hillsboro Rotary Club.
IDA, 35, lives at 105 Dale Drive, Hillsboro. He is married to Shannon Ida and he has two stepchildren. He works in the quality control field. He has an associates degree in fire science technology from JeffersonCollege and a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health from the University of Central Missouri. He is a member of FaithBaptistChurch and is a weather storm spotter. In addition to his three years serving as a volunteer firefighter for the district (1997-2010), he was a damage control firefighter in the Navy from 1999-2003 and a board member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity from 2011-2012.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Block: A regular topic of discussion by the board is how to maintain the quality of the district in times of diminishing tax revenue and demands to update and improve equipment and training. We recently saved money by installing solar panels, which greatly reduced utility costs. Our department recently received approval from residents for a tax increase, something we needed to enhance the quality of our services. Our goal is to provide the best service to our residents at the lowest cost possible. Against the backdrop of limited funds, we also have increased the number of paid firefighters and consistently worked to maintain and improve our equipment. We also have an annual outside audit by a certified public accounting firm.
Ida: Some of the firetrucks are getting old and need to be replaced or rebuilt. The community needs to be able to rely on the district when it needs them. Air packs are slowly getting old as well. The fire department needs to start considering how they want to replace these important tools. The community has passed a tax increase for these expenses.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Block: My goals are to continue and improve the services we provide through being a board member who works for the benefit of our residents. We have an effective leadership team in our chief and my fellow board members and my goal is to continue and enhance our working together to continue providing quality services to residents.
Ida: I have 13 years of fire service and was a firefighter in the Navy for four years. I would like to make the arrangements to be able to upgrade the firetrucks and the air packs. I plan to attend board meetings on a regular basis so there will be a full board at the monthly meetings. I would like to help Goldman become the leading fire protection district in the county. Tax money needs to be spent wisely but at the same time used by the district to ensure its future. I would like for Goldman to be the best and this is a way I can serve the community again.