On its third time before the voters, the $3.75 million bond measure proposed by the Lebanon Fire District passed by just over 50 percent. It received 4,957 yes votes and 4,512 no votes.

Fire Chief Perry Palmer said he is &#8220grateful and appreciative to the community for their show of support for not only the fire district but for public safety in general. It is an affirmation and demonstration that as a whole, people appreciate what the emergency service workers do for them and their community. The people said in this vote that they trust us to do just that and we have no intention of letting them down."

The bond will pay for construction of two new fire stations, one in the Crowfoot area and one at Upper Berlin and Berlin roads, and the purchase of new and replacement equipment.

Now the work begins, Palmer said.

The district can sell the bonds as early as December. Initially, it will use bond funds to secure an architect, purchase property if needed and place orders for new equipment. By making prepayments, the district can receive discounts as much as $50,000 to $70,000 of the selling price of trucks.

The new station in the Crowfoot area will reduce response time in the southeast portion of the district. It will be staffed by paid full-time paramedics and firefighters as well as resident and non-resident volunteers.

The station at Upper Berlin and Berlin will serve the east end of the district. Current response times to the area average 17 minutes. It will be a volunteer station.

The district plans to buy

this equipment: two 3,500-gallon water tenders, two 2,500-gallon pumper/tenders, one 1,000-gallon rescue pumper, three 400-gallon four-wheel drive brush/rescue trucks and three 200-gallon four-wheel drive brush trucks/staff vehicles.

The district's earlier bond measures would have built four new stations and added more equipment. The first was for a $5.5 million bond and was defeated a year ago. The second was for a $4.7 million bond and was defeated in May. Both were approved by the voters but failed to pass because fewer than 50 percent plus one voters cast ballots in those elections. This election did not require a double majority.