By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The City of Whitewater is about to have a formal relationship with the local fire and rescue department that has long provided services to residents.
After an extensive series of reviews — including hiring a consultant and forming a task force — the Common Council on June 16 backed a plan to forge ahead with an interim agreement with what is to become the Whitewater Fire Department Inc.
As part of the council’s motion, the interim agreement, which creates for an immediate relationship between the two entities, sunsets in March. In the next eight months, both sides are expected to hammer out a long-term agreement that specifies each group’s role.
As the newly incorporated fire department takes form, one immediate change will become noticeable — at least to officials managing the city’s budget. As of July 1, fire and emergency medical services responders will receive a higher rate of compensation.
“This new structure will include an hourly rate for firefighters, as opposed to the $8 per call paid previously,” City Manager Cameron Clapper said. “The proposed changes result in an estimated net budget increase of about $21,565 annually.”
Although the city plans to shell out more cash to fund fire and rescue operations, Fire Chief Don Gregoire said there is a trade-off: The new compensation structure is competitive, he said, and could prevent officers and responders from leaving to pursue positions in other communities.
While steps still need to be taken to formalize the city’s relationship with the fire and rescue department, the council’s action comes after a multi-year effort.
Throughout 2014, an appointed Whitewater Fire and EMS Task Force met to discuss the organizational structure of the growing agency. The review included a discussion of how the city’s fire and EMS services should be handled and overseen.
With more oversight on the city end, an appointed governing body independent of the Whitewater Police and Fire Commission will likely be formed to take up issues pertaining to the fire and rescue department.
In 2013, the city enlisted the services of Charlotte, N.C.-based Emergency Services Consulting International, which performed an analysis of the fire and rescue department’s existing operations plan and provide a range of recommendations.
At last weeks’ council meeting, officials voted, 5-0, in favor of the interim agreement. Council President Patrick Singer was unable to attend the meeting, and council member Craig Stauffer abstained from voting because he has served on the department.
Council member Ken Kidd, who served on last year’s task force, said the review was an exhaustive, time-intensive effort that was worthwhile.
“I have been impressed at how hard the department, in general has worked — especially the officers — to be sure that the whole process … fulfills the best interests of our community,” Kidd said.
Speaking to the rationale of having an interim agreement, Clapper said it serves an important mechanism to reaching a long-term agreement between the two entities.
“Both parties would like to enter into (the tentative) agreement as soon as is possible so that work on the multi-year agreement and department improvements can begin,” Clapper said.
