By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
As city officials look to strength their relationship with the volunteer-driven Whitewater Fire Department Inc. into the future, attention is simultaneously being directed toward a countywide cooperative effort.
The Common Council on April 7 adopted a resolution that urged members of the Walworth County Board to consider embarking on a study to examine long-term fire and emergency medical services (EMS) options on a regional basis.
City Manager Cameron Clapper recommended the council consider joining other municipalities across Walworth County and sign off on the resolution as a sign of solidarity.
“The City of Whitewater enjoys the luxury of fire and EMS services from an independent agency, operating at a cost significantly under that of neighboring municipalities,” Clapper said.
But Clapper further noted, “There are many towns, villages and cities in Walworth County — and Wisconsin as a whole — that are looking at ways to regionalize services in an effort to reduce costs.”
Coincidentally, the council on April 7 also was slated to act on a long-term agreement with Whitewater Fire Department Inc., though it was postponed to accommodate some fine-tuning with legal representatives. The agreement is to be revisited in the near future, likely in early May.
Clapper in his recent discussion with the council emphasized the two issues are independent of one another.
“The City of Whitewater will continue to pursue the current partnership with Whitewater Fire Department Inc. for fire and emergency services,” he said. “However, in the spirit of cooperation and in support of the potential benefits to neighboring municipalities, (I am) requesting council support and adoption of the resolution.”
