SNOHOMISH — Mark Hintz was honored for a decade and a half of service last week by the Fire District 4 commission.
Hintz lost his commission seat to Evan Merritt, who was sworn in at the same meeting. Recognition of Hintz’s service was detailed at the final commission meeting of 2019 on Dec. 23.
Hintz was involved in the passage of an emergency medical services levy in 2006 that followed several previous levy failures. The funding allowed the district to establish a paramedic program.
Hintz and former commissioner Roger Portmann “were instrumental in getting the Paramedic Program started in 2007,” a statement said.
The commission also oversaw the complete replacement of an aging fleet of emergency vehicles.
Hintz was a banker in his professional life and granted those skills to oversee and manage district funds, which the commission announcement said resulted in seven Washington State Audits, with a clean record and no findings. A finding evaluates audit evidence against criteria; a lack of findings indicates compliance and a meticulous methodology.
In a phone interview before the meeting, Hintz mentioned his role in development of the district training site off of S. Machias Road which is now utilized by both Whatcom and Skagit firefighters.
Commissioner Jim Schmoker spoke to the commitment Hintz made in his time on the commission.
“There is much more beneath the surface that doesn’t show in direct accomplishments. Hundreds of hours of research, discussion and decisions that have made the department what it is today,” Schmoker said in the statement. “Mark has been a great champion of the people, assuring we had the best department we could have with the limited funding we are allowed.”
