Quincy negotiates possible new fire department

QUINCY - Quincy may start its own fire department after the latest proposal made by Grant County Fire District 3 was rejected.

The city and the district have been negotiating a new contract after the present one ends. Councilmembers said at the meeting the district is requesting an increase. The council responded with a counter offer following a retreat and creating a fire chief and an assistant fire chief position.

The city presently pays the fire district $248,000 for fire protection services, code enforcement and fire prevention, fire district 3 Chief Don Fortier said.

Negotiations started a few months previous, and they weren't able to agree on a price, he said. The city presently owns some vehicles, which are housed in the fire district's facilities and manned by fire district personnel.

City Administrator Tim Snead said the prices the district has offered has been fluid.

As a response to the latest offer, the fire district asked the city to extend the contract for another year and hire a consultant to find different ways for the city and district to continue working together, Mayor Jim Hemberry said.

Fortier explained in an interview the consultant would help the district and city look at various ways to provide fire services and pay for them, including annexing the city into the fire district or creating a regional fire authority.

"There are several different ways that people are providing fire services," he said. "We need to figure out what's the best way to provide fire protection in the region. That's what our concern is. We think we're doing the right thing, but maybe we're making a mistake here. Maybe we need to evaluate what we're doing. It's all about providing the level of service the community needs."

If the city wanted to continue, the district wanted the council to promise not to develop a fire department, Hemberry said.

"Obviously this process is something that we needed to go through anyway, so it just gives us the opportunity to be able to look at all the options that are out there as well," he said.

Councilmember Jose Saldana disagreed with the idea, saying the offer they decided on at the retreat was the final price the city was willing to pay to continue to contract.

"We know what we want," he said. "So hiring a consultant, I don't think is going to change my mind. I know what we need."

Councilmember Scott Lybbert supported the proposal, saying hiring the consultant would allow a third party to examine the situation. He pointed out the city and fire district are presently paying for the ambulance service in the city.

"Is there a different way we should be financing or even developing a program for our area," he said. "Is there something else out there that would be better for the relationship that we have ... We just don't know."

Saldana said the city should have its own department, and they made an offer, which was rejected.

"Apparently it's money. There is no other option. The only option here is just money," he said. "We offered them what we think is right. They want more money, and I think for that amount of money they want we can provide our own services."

Lybbert replied a consultant would have more experience with possible options available to the city and the fire district.

"This is going way beyond the original proposal we were looking at. This is taking a step back and saying, 'Wait a minute. Let's take the whole program off of the table and let's look at how other areas have provided services,'" he said.

Hemberry pointed out the extension is what the city originally offered to the fire district, so the city could examine the potential costs of operating a fire department.

Councilmember Paul Worley said the fire district was happy with the present system when it made its original offer.

"Except it was three times the old price. Now all the sudden they want to reinvent the wheel so to speak because they got shot down on fleecing us," he said.

The council rejected the proposal with Worley, Saldana and Councilmembers Manuel Guerrero and Jeremy McCreary voting against the proposal, and Lybbert and Councilmember Tom Harris voting for it. Councilmember Adam Roduner was not present at the meeting.

Fortier said the district is still open to negotiating with the city to continue providing fire services.

"It's a huge decision to change what we're doing," he said. "It could impact the health and welfare and lives of the people we serve. We want to make sure we make the right decision and to make the right decision you have to have all the information."

Snead said the city will continue to work with the fire district on a contract.