Harris County Emergency Service District #16 News

North Harris County, Texas – Five independent Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) join forces to build a new Emergency Dispatch Center for fire response and emergency rescue calls. The new Texas Emergency Communications Center (TECC) will be the Public Safety Secondary Answering Point (SSAP) for five ESDs that serve nearly half a million people and multiple Fortune 100 businesses in North Harris County. 

ExxonMobil, Hewlett Packard, Chevron, and Amazon have made major commitments in the area over the last decade. More commercial and residential development has naturally followed. Amid this evolution, the separation of Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) from Harris County ESD No. 11 left other ESDs in a difficult position over 9-1-1 dispatch services. Each ESD came to the same conclusion, that the CCEMS and ESD 11 separation simply highlighted the need to develop an Emergency Fire Dispatch center for ever-evolving North Harris County. 

Harris County Emergency Services District No. 16 (“OWNER”) is seeking responses to its Request for Proposals to provide Landscaping Services for the District’s fire stations and other properties. Sealed bids MUST BE SUBMITTED TO the Administrative Office of ESD 16 located at 8681 Louetta, Suite 250, Klein, Texas 77379 NO LATER THAN 2:00 P.M., ON JUNE 5, 2020 (“Submittal Deadline”) at which time the bids will be opened and read aloud.  Any proposals received after the closing time will be returned unopened.

Information about the requirements for the landscaping services as well as the locations needing maintenance can be obtained through the District’s website at http://www.hcesd16.org/images/pdf-files/2020/Lawncare-RFP/ESD_16_Landscaping_RFP_Final.pdf

During the September 10th regular meeting, the HCESD 16 Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to replace the two 2003 reserve trucks with new Pierce Velocity pumper trucks.

The Board felt that the aging fleet would need a succession and replacement plan that would allow for necessary upgrades without incurring additional debt. This step is part of an eight-year plan to upgrade and renew the equipment with no increase in debts.

At the September 10th regular meeting, the HCESD 16 Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to bring on BRW Architects for the remodel of Klein VFD Station #6.

This choice came as part of an initiative to refresh the department facilities by adding dorms and living quarters to each of the stations, thus better allowing for staffing and training firefighters.

Harris County ESD No. 16 commissioners unaimously approved to extend its current property tax exemptions.  The current exemptions are 10% for homes with a homestead exemption; $20,000 per year for homeowners who are over 65 years old or disabled; and $20,000 per year for homeowners who qualify as a dsiabled person.  The exemptions were first approved in 2016.

At a Special Meeting of Harris County ESD No. 16, held on February 5, 2018,  Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Rich Jones to the board.  He will fill the vacancy left by Robert Farrell who resigned from the position on January 31, 2018. 

Harris County ESD No. 16 commissioners voted unanimously to award a contract to LDF Construction to build the District’s new station. Klein VFD Station #3 will be constructed in place of the existing station at 9755 Landry Blvd, near the intersection of Landry Blvd and Old Louetta Road.

The project involves demoltion of the existing station and construction of an approximately 10,900-square-foot fire station to provide space for overnight sleeping, dining, three-bay vehicle drive-through, equipment storage and public meeting/training room.  The project also includes a Training building along with a WHP training structure.  Construction is funded by the Sales Tax Proposition approved in 2015.

Harris County ESD No. 16 completed the purchase of approximately 14 acres of land to relocate Klein VFD St. #1. The land purchased is located south of Spring-Cypress on Stubner-Airline and north of the exisitng Klein VFD Station #1. In addition to a fire station, the District has future plans to consturct a new Administration and Maintenance facility along with the new fire station.  The future fire station will be approximately 12,000-square feet and designed to accommodate a combined training/public meeting room, feature a four-bay vehicle pull through facility along with overnight quarters and related support spaces.

After nine (9) months of work, the noise of hammers, drills, and workers has finally been replaced by the sounds of firefighters and their equipment answering emergency calls at Klein VFD St. #2.  With the remodel complete, the station now has eight (8) dorm rooms for overnight staffing as well as a dedicated training room.  Additionally, new equipment has been installed to wash and dry firefighter gear at the station following exposure to toxins from providing service to the community.  Finally, the lighting for the station was upgraded to LED fixtures, which will reduce energy usage, save taxpayer dollars and result in a better lit facility.

In cooperation with and supported by funding from Harris Co. ESD No. 16, Klein VFD added two (2) new vehicles to its fleet.  Harris Co. ESD No. 16 was able to make a very cost effective purchase through the Federal Surplus Property Program which is administered by the Texas Facilities Commission.

Klein VFD already had one (1) Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) in its fleet, these new trucks will improve the ability of the fire department to respond to flooding events in Northwest Harris County.  While it is hoped that these trucks will never need to see service during a flood, this cost effective opportunity could not be missed.  This acquisition provides another tool for Klein VFD to continue its high level of service to the community and most importantly during the most demanding of conditions.

At its May meeting, Harris County ESD No. 16 commissioners voted unanimously to select Christensen Building Group to remodel one of the District’s fire stations. Klein VFD Station #4 is located at 16810 Squyres Road, near the intersection of Louetta and Squyres.

The remodeling project includes the addition of overnight quarters as well as improvements to the interior space to meet the current fire department needs.  Funding for the project will come from the Sales Tax Proposition approved in 2015.

The Houston Chronicle has published an article about the ongoing station construction and renovation projects within ESD #16.  Take a minute to read about what's going on with your local ESD.

Click here to read the article

On January 9, 2017, the Harris County ESD No. 16 Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the purchase of three (3) new Pierce Velocity 100' Platforms for Klein Volunteer Fire Department. The aerials will be purchased from Siddons Martin Apparatus utilizing the HGAC contract and will replace the existing platform and two (2) ladders within the fleet.

At its January meeting, Harris County ESD No. 16 Commissioners selected BRW Architects to design a new fire station and service center near the corner of Landry Blvd and Old Louetta Road.  The new station will be built in place of the exsting Klein VFD Station #3.  The new station will be designed to accomdate a combined training/public meeting room, feature a three-bay vehicle pull through facility along with overnight quarters and related support spaces.  The project will include a seperate building to house the new Service/Maintenance facility.

The Houston Chronicle has published an article about the ongoing station construction and renovation projects within ESD #16.  The article discusses the new Station #8 and interior renovations that will be happening to existing Stations #2 and #4. Take a minute to read about what's going on with your local ESD.

http://www.chron.com/…/New-fire-station-is-planned-for-Klei…

At the October 2016 meeting of Harris County Emergency Services District No. 16, commissioners adopted a tax rate of $0.05.  This tax rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year’s tax rate.

Harris County ESD No. 16 commissioners voted unanimously to award a contract to Balfour Beatty Construction to remodel one of the District’s fire stations. Klein VFD Station #2 is located at 14640 Gladbrook Drive, near the intersection of FM1960 and Gladbrook.

The remodeling project includes the addition of overnight quarters as well as improvements to the interior space to meet the current fire department needs.  Construction is expected to take approximately six (6) months but the station will remain operational.  The project is funded by the Sales Tax Proposition approved in 2015.

Harris County ESD No. 16 commissioners voted unanimously to award a contract to Teal Construction to build the District’s new station. Klein VFD Station #8 will be constructed at 9600 Crescent Clover Drive, near the intersection of Champions Forest and Crescent Clover. The facility location is in response to rapid growth in the area.

The project involves construction of an approximately 10,900-square-foot fire station to provide space for overnight sleeping, dining, three-bay vehicle drive-through, equipment storage and public meeting/training room. Construction is funded by the Sales Tax Proposition approved in 2015.

At their June meeting, Harris County ESD No. 16 voted unanimously to approve the purchase of two (2) new rescue boats for Klein Volunteer Fire Department.  While the District already had in its fleet apparatus that could be used for flood related rescues, these new boats and the related trailer will improve the ability of the department to respond.  This purchase is comprised of an inflatable boat, similar to the type used by the military for water landings on a beach, as well as flat bottom connector boat, similar to a Jon boat.  The boats will improve the fire department’s capabilities to respond to water rescues as each can be used at the same time for different types of rescue needs.  The motors of both boats will have a safety guard to help prevent the prop from cutting victims who are in the water as well as inhibit debris from interfering with the operation of the motor.  The fire department has taken delivery of the boats which were purchased from RescueONE and the accompanying trailer.  The boats have been placed in service and are available to the Klein Volunteer Fire Department to serve the residents of Harris County ESD No. 16 and to provide mutual aid to our neighbors when requested.

At the May 2016 meeting of Harris County Emergency Services District No. 16, commissioners approved a tax savings to most of the homeowners living inside of the District.  The District for the first time now makes available three different tax exemptions to residents of the District.