Voters will decide in February whether to expand the King County Fire District No. 43 Board of Commissioners from three to five.

The measure, Proposition 1, will be on the Feb. 9 special election ballot.

The fire district, which is served by Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety, represents about 43,000. The district includes about 53 square miles and there are about 22,000 registered voters.

It will be a mail-only election and ballots must be postmarked by Feb. 9.

The fire board passed a motion at the Oct. 1 meeting requesting the measure be placed on the ballot.

Following the meeting, Commissioner Brian McGee stated by phone he was in favor of expanding to five members four years ago when he was elected to the board. McGee noted Commissioner Mike Scott also was in support expansion when he was elected.

One to the advantages of a five member board is two members can serve on a committee without making up a quorum.

Adding two more commissioners would cost the district about $5,000 per year.

Interim Chief Brad Doerflinger said the commissioners felt the “benefits outweigh the costs.”

Doerflinger noted with the population increase in the district, “adding commissioners will give better representation.”

If voters approve Proposition No. 1, the board will set up a process to select the two commissioners. One of the commissioners will serve a two year term and one a four year term before running for election.