County and city debate merger
By Jim Thaxton
FALMOUTH — They talked, argued and finally agreed to table the discussion to explore further details on a possible merger of city and county fire departments into a fire district.
Many people expressed surprise that Mayor Sabrina Hazen, who agreed during a March 14 town hall to set up a meeting between the Falmouth City Council and Pendleton County Fiscal Court, was able to bring the two governmental organizations together three days later on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
Four tables pulled together in the Fiscal Court Room with chairs circling them formed an oval circle that placed both government bodies in a position of equality. At two points in the oval, magistrates sat next to council members.
County Judge Executive David Fields and Hazen sat directly across from each other.
As the clock moved closer to the announced 6 p.m. starting time, the room filled with fire personnel from Pendleton County Fire Department, Northern Pendleton County Fire Department and Falmouth Fire Department.
Sheriff’s deputies mingled among the firefighters, citizens and a handful of candidates for political office.
Fields called the Fiscal Court to order, followed by Hazen calling the City Council to order.
Hazen briefly explained the city’s concept of a possible merger that would keep the firehouse, leadership and volunteers along with equipment in the city. She insisted that no qualified volunteer be turned away.
Current policy prevents any volunteer of PCFD from also being a member of other volunteer fire departments.
Magistrate Josh Plummer began the conversation raising the question of cost sharing between the county and city. The mayor agreed that would have to be worked out within a merger agreement sharing some of the possible city obligations.
She also expressed concern that the city’s citizens would not be double taxed.
She suggested that keeping the two departments intact as one department would help spread the coverage throughout the county, noting that a merger would be the first step in expanding fire protection as the county grows.
Magistrate Rick Mineer requested more financial details. He asked who would be responsible for collecting costs on situations like car wrecks in the city. After discussion, it was agreed that car wrecks are covered by the insurance companies of those involved in a crash.
Hazen said she believed that the city would cover calls to Falmouth and cover the cost of PCFD services to city residents if they were needed on site.
Pummer asked about the current rosters of both departments and was told that Falmouth had 22 personnel and the county 30.
Fields expressed concern about fairness to PCFD’s leadership who he said worked so hard to get the county’s department up and running.
Comments from the audience stressed what people saw as the differences between a merger and a takeover.
Falmouth Chief John Fields stated that only two of his volunteers would stay as volunteers if the result was a takeover.
County Chief Darrin Brown brought up state regulations that must be followed which may dictate how a combined department would operate.
Mineer brought up the city’s budget focusing on what he saw as the advantages to the city if the two departments merged.
Hazen said that whether the department remains autonomous as a city service or merges with the county has nothing to do with the city’s budget. She claimed that the city’s budget is sufficient to have their own department.
Magistrate Darrin Gregg mused that this may not be the best time to discuss any merger and recommended holding any action until after the elections.
Councilman Stephen Gales said he would like to see leadership from Falmouth in a merger. This touched a nerve with county firefighters, and the mayor responded directly to the rivalry and animosity between both departments, requesting that everyone behave as adults.
She said whatever is done, city volunteers have to be heard.
Mineer again focused on the costs a merger may create. PCFD has four paid staff and a merger might bring on as many as three more.
Fields suggested one solution would be to bring on one chief from the city, leave one truck in Falmouth and let Falmouth pay for building expenses. An audience member challenged the judge’s proposal as just a masked takeover of the FFD.
Realizing the suggestion to wait until after the election was a convenient ramp to trying to work out all the details, the Fiscal Court and City Council voted to table the discussion.
Deputies helped clear the courtroom so that the Fiscal Court could begin their caucus to discuss items to cover at their next regular meeting.
As the meeting was breaking up, Hazen told the Outlook that there was a legal glitch in getting the issue on the ballot in November and the city’s attorney was working on it.
She said that if the city cannot get the issue on the ballot, she was prepared to go door-to-door throughout the city to understand what the citizens want.