Ephrata will study fire departments' merger

EPHRATA - The Ephrata City Council unanimously agreed Wednesday to study merging the city's fire department with Grant County Fire District No. 13.

The fire district surrounds the city and annexing Ephrata into the fire district will also be examined with the help of a consultant.

Researching the merger and annexation is part of the city's 10-year plan.

The idea has been discussed for about a year or two, said Ephrata City Councilman Ben Davis on Friday. It's expected to take over a year to complete a proposal, he said.

Open houses and other public meetings would be held before residents voted on the matter.

"They are very, very cooperative now, with how they fight fire," Davis said of the two fire departments. "We believe it would be for the better."

The two fire stations are three blocks apart and work under a mutual aid agreement, Davis said. The departments also train together, according to Ephrata City Administrator Wes Crago.

The city spends about $550,000 annually on its department and a merger would free up city money to be used elsewhere, Davis said. There would likely be savings down the road for city residents, he added.

City residents wouldn't see a reduction in taxes, but it's likely people living within the fire district's boundaries would gain a significant tax base, Davis said.

The fire rating for city residents would likely improve as there would be a better chance of protecting the city during the weekdays when volunteers aren't as readily available, he said. The rating is a factor in determining the cost of fire insurance for homes and businesses.

A study will determine whether Ephrata's fire equipment will be sold to the fire district, Davis said.

The city's fire department employees would keep their jobs, Davis said. It's his understanding that Ephrata Fire Chief Jeremy Burns would be the chief of the new entity, said Davis. The fire district's chief, Shane Heston, is a volunteer.

Ephrata Fire Chief Jeremy Burns said Wednesday that the end of 2008 was mentioned as a possible completion date for the proposal. He said the timeline may be too short.

Money is also a consideration if the merger is appropriate, he said.

"Now, we have two pretty strong fire departments," Burns said.