I would like to express my concern regarding the Black Diamond City Council and the Mayor of Black Diamond’s recent decision to place the new fire station at the wrong location. This decision appears to have overlooked several important factors that will greatly impact our city and the citizens who live here.

I have recently learned that the new fire station being built and almost complete on top of Lawson Hill in Black Diamond, WA, will not be used as a fire station. This was discovered at the March 8, 2025, council retreat.

The city bought the property from Oak Point Development for approximately $500,000. Around the time of the groundbreaking ceremony, the Mayor of Black Diamond and the Black Diamond City Council knew that the new station was in the wrong location and that they would not have money to operate it as a fire station. They were directed to move forward with the project. Whoever advised the council to move this forward should be held responsible along with the mayor and council. I have tried to inquire about who advised the council to continue to move forward but they have withheld that information.

This building was constructed using millions of dollars from fire impact fees which have the restriction that they can only be used for fire related activities. As of the March 8, 2025, council retreat, the Mayor of Black Diamond was suggesting to the council that they should buy another parcel of property on Highway 169 for another fire station. The current Fire Chief does not agree with or support this location. They knew the one that they are currently building could not be used as a fire station and as a result they incorrectly and irresponsibly used millions of dollars from fire impact fees.

We should be asking: When will the Mayor and Council learn from their past mistakes? They should be including the fire department in the decision making so that the next proposed fire station will be located to satisfy both parties. I urge the City Council to engage in further consultation with the fire department directly to determine a more strategic and effective location for the fire station. Before the city moves forward on selecting a location for the new fire station, they should first determine if they have the resources, including funds and staff to maintain and operate the facility.

Dan Dal Santo

Black Diamond