HB 300-FN-A – AS INTRODUCED
2009 SESSION
08/04
HOUSE BILL 300-FN-A
AN ACT requiring the construction of a fire tower on Copple Crown Mountain and creating a position to operate the fire tower.
SPONSORS: Rep. Boyce, Belk 5; Rep. Knox, Carr 4
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
This bill requires the construction of a fire tower on Copple Crown Mountain and creating a position to operate the fire tower.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
09-0363
08/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine
AN ACT requiring the construction of a fire tower on Copple Crown Mountain and creating a position to operate the fire tower.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Construction of Fire Tower on Copple Crown Mountain; Department of Resources and Economic Development. The department of resources and economic development shall arrange for and cause the construction of a fire tower on Copple Crown Mountain in Brookfield by December 31, 2009.
2 Position Established; Fire Tower Lookout Watchman. There is hereby established within the department of resources and economic development the division of forest and land, a Copple Crown Mountain fire tower lookout watchman to operate the Copple Crown Mountain fire tower from April 1 to September 30 annually.
3 Appropriation. The amount of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, is hereby appropriated to the department of resources and economic development for the purposes of this act. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
09-0363
01/12/09
HB 300-FN-A - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT requiring the construction of a fire tower on Copple Crown Mountain and creating a position to operate the fire tower.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Resources and Economic Development states this bill will increase state general fund expenditures by $211,412 in FY 2010, $25,045 in FY 2011, $26,465 in FY 2012, and $27,961 in FY 2013. There will be no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue or county and local expenditures.
This bill appropriates $1 from the general fund to the Department of Resources and Economic Development in FY 2010 for the purposes of this bill.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Resources and Economic Development states this bill requires the Department to construct a fire tower on Copple Crown Mountain in Brookfield and to staff the fire tower with a watchman position established in this bill. The Department made the following assumptions when estimating the fiscal impact of this bill:
• Engineering will be required, such as surveying, site plans, and geotechnical reports. Some of this work, such as surveying, will be done by current staff.
• Environmental impact studies will be required.
• Public hearing will be required, and will be facilitated by current staff.
• Extensive site work will be required due to ledge.
• Supplies will need to be transported to the top of the mountain via helicopter or special use vehicle due to no access road.
• Steelwork will be constructed by contracted labor.
• Labor for constructing the fire tower cab will be done by current staff.
• The watchman position established by this bill will be a Forestry Aid, labor grade 08.
• The season will last 30 weeks, or 15 pay periods, from April through October.
The Department estimated one-time construction and equipment costs in FY 2010 associated with this bill as follows:
Construction
Engineering - $10,000
Environmental Impact Studies - $5,000
60’ steel fire tower with staircase (design & material) - $50,000
Foundation - $35,000
Grounding - $7,000
Helicopter and/or special use vehicles - $40,000
Labor for steelwork - $30,000
Fire tower cab construction - $12,000
Equipment
Osborne Firefinder - $4,000
Mobile two-way VHF radio - $2,200
Portable two-way radio - $2,000
Binoculars - $200
Antenna - $900
Electric solar panel - $5,000
Total Construction & Equipment - $203,300
The Department estimated the total annual construction, equipment, and personnel costs associated with this bill as follows:
FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013
Construction & Equipment 203,300 - - -
Salary 4,629 14,214 14,778 15,350
Benefits 3,483 10,831 11,687 12,611
TOTAL $211,412 $25,045 $26,465 $27,961
This bill appropriates $1 from the general fund to the Department of Resources and Economic Development in FY 2010 for the purposes of this bill.