The cost of rural fire protection

As of Wednesday, the City of Quincy and Grant County Fire District No. 3 were continuing negotiations on a contract that would allow the district to keep providing fire and emergency medical services to the city.

Now the city's negotiating committee wants a second extension of the contract to further study recommendations from Emergency Services Consulting (ESCI), according to Quincy Mayor Jim Hemberry.

Some of the recommendations included items such as performance and other areas the committee wanted to focus on, he told the Columbia Basin Herald.

Ideas to improve service were also listed, according to ESCI's study.

Hemberry explains the committee doesn't want to reach the end of its current contract on Dec. 1 and wonder what it will do for fire services one month later, he said. It's why the committee is seeking a six-month to one-year extension.

The county listed the contract amount of $482,205 per year in a letter it recently sent to the city, he said. (A fire district press release sent to area media listed a rounded amount of $482,000)

"The amount they stated in that letter is all we're working on now," Hemberry said.

The city negotiating committee then counter offered, asking the fire district to consider a six-month extension at $225,000, or a one-year extension at $425,000. The one-year amount of $425,000 is $183,000 more than the city paid two years ago, or a 75 percent increase, according to Hemberry.

Both sides are coming together, with only a $57,000 difference for the one-year contract (or extension).

We think this is great progress.

The fire district recently announced it agreed with the consultant's report, which states its proposal would save the city about $2 million in start-up and facility costs if the city started its own department.

We think the city and fire district should continue its relationship, but also keep the taxpayers' finances in mind as they finalize negotiations.

Another benefit of continuing the contract is the fire district's modern station.

District personnel also know the area's geography, structures and its people. They should, considering how large the district is.

The district encompasses about 500 square miles, covering the communities of Quincy, Winchester, Low Gap, George, Sunland Estates, Trinidad and Crescent Bar.

It appears to be the best use of taxpayer dollars to have the district and city agree on some type of new contract.

We hope both sides will come together soon to continue providing fire services for Quincy.

- Editorial Board