Thursday March 28th, 2024 11:38AM

Helen, White County look at consolidating fire departments

HELEN - A meeting Tuesday morning laid the groundwork that could lead to the consolidation of fire departments in Helen and White County.<br /> <br /> Near the end of Tuesday afternoon's Helen City Commission meeting, city officials discussed the idea.<br /> City Manager Jerry Elkins informed the commission he met with White County Manager Mike Melton and Public Safety Director David Murphy Tuesday morning to discuss the possibility of consolidating Helen's fire services with White County's.<br /> <br /> "We all know that volunteerism is not what it used to be," Elkins said. "To get volunteers is getting harder every day."<br /> <br /> Elkins referred to recent efforts by White County to add paid firefighters to respond to calls, augmented by volunteers when available.<br /> <br /> "The county is making an effort to man a lot of the fire stations," Elkins said. "In past talks, they'd really like to have one here in Helen that would be a benefit to them as well as the city. By us having a Class 4 ISO rating, we give an enhanced service ... and we're going to have to pay some money to get that enhanced service."<br /> <br /> Elkins told commissioners the decision to move toward a paid department is a consensus.<br /> <br /> "Everybody has expressed that in the very near future this is going to be what needs to be done to make sure that we have proper service for our citizens, tourists and the area," Elkins said. "It's all discussions. I think we need to have some meetings and get preliminary ideas and amounts, then we can discuss something."<br /> <br /> Commissioner Dona K. Burke said she favors consolidation.<br /> <br /> "I think it would be good for the city, I really do," Burke said.<br /> <br /> Similarly, Mayor Judy Holloway said she is in favor of the talks.<br /> <br /> "It's not going to hurt to discuss it," Holloway said.<br /> <br /> Elkins said fire protection is a challenge for the city of 540 full-time residents, especially when the population can swell to thousands on a busy weekend.<br /> <br /> "Small towns like Helen, it's really hard for us to provide the service that if the county and cities work together we can provide," Elkins said.<br /> <br /> Burke stressed the Helen station is not manned 24 hours a day, to which Elkins said there are times when volunteers are not available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.<br /> <br /> "I'm thinking that if they [White County] could do that it would be good for the city," Burke said.<br /> <br /> But Elkins cautioned the county providing the current level of fire service for the city would not be free.<br /> <br /> "Everybody needs to understand up front we're not going to be able to just give it to them and not pay something," Elkins said.<br /> <br /> Elkins told commissioners if consolidation is accomplished, he would not want to see the city get rid of its fire station.<br /> <br /> Commissioner Helen Wilkins asked how the consolidation talks would affect the planned purchase of a new fire truck for Helen.<br /> <br /> "Let's just put it this way, there's a lot of options," Elkins said. "Let's leave it at that for now."<br /> <br /> Wilkins said she is in favor of the discussions.<br /> <br /> "We need to find out if this could benefit us without costing more than it should," Wilkins said.<br /> <br /> Commissioner Jeff Ash said the city has a $200,000 fire department budget now.<br /> <br /> "We may not have to come out of pocket that much more," Ash said.<br /> <br /> Elkins said the city discussed consolidation with the county fire department in 2013, though he didn't recall the date. A rough agreement was discussed at that time.<br /> <br /> "It was in that particular one that the city would maintain and pay the utilities on the building, and it will remain our building - they'll just have use of it," Elkins said. <br /> <br /> Following the meeting, Elkins spoke more about exploring consolidation with White County Fire Services.<br /> <br /> "We'll look at all possibilities," Elkins said. "Just because we're considering the matter doesn't mean that anything's going to happen. We think we should look into it and see what's best for the Helen community and the White County community, and do what's best for all concerned."
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