By Dave Fidlin
While several questions still remain, pieces of the puzzle are coming together on the long-term future of Whitewater’s fire emergency medical services (EMS) agency.
Throughout 2014, an appointed Whitewater Fire and EMS Task Force has been meeting to discuss the organizational structure of the growing agency. The review has included a discussion of how the city’s fire and EMS services should be handled and overseen.
“We need to have a department that continues to be a top-notch performer as the level of services increases,” City Manager Cameron Clapper said.
Clapper presented an update on the review process at a Common Council meeting Aug. 19. With feedback from a hired consultant, Clapper said members of the task force are coming together on the agency’s long-term organizational structure.
Plans call for the fire and rescue company to act independent of the city itself, but still have close ties. For example, the company would likely contract out for financial and human resources functions, and those services likely would be provided by the city.
“There would be a detailed agreement that would outline these services,” Clapper said of the proposal.
This spring, Clapper said the task force explored a variety of different organizational models.
Based on the discussions that have taken place, Clapper said the task force is in favor of a scenario that calls on the company to be overseen by a governing agency — comprised of fire and EMS personnel, a member of the Common Council and a representative of the separately governed Police and Fire Commission.
While the company will act independent of the city, the council itself will have an ultimate say on the organizational makeup of the company. Plans call for elected officials to make a final vote in the near future.
