Canton Reignites Fire Services Talk With Cherokee County

While it plans to move ahead with plans to build and open a new fire station in the Laurel Canyon subdivision, the Canton City Council is not ready to give up on the possibility of some form of a merger with Cherokee County.

The council’s Fire Services Committee — made up of Bill Grant, Jack Goodwin and Sandy McGrew — met on Wednesday and reviewed a proposed memorandum of understanding with the county for operation of the fire station.

The committee was joined by Canton Council members Hooky Huffman and John Rust and Mayor Gene Hobgood, and they all participated in the discussion during the meeting.

According to the memo, — penned by Cherokee County Manager Jerry Cooper — Canton would:

• Design and build the Laurel Canyon station for an estimated occupancy date of July 1, 2015.
• Provide a ladder company at one of the city’s fire stations, which will be trained at the Cherokee County Fire Training Center or other training as a Rapid Intervention Team.
• The city has budgeted nine additional firefighters for fiscal year 2015. If an acceptable agreement is reached, these nine firefighters will be “utilized to further enhance the quality of the Canton operated fire stations.”
• Execute a 50-year intergovernmental agreement for the county to operate the Laurel Canyon station, which would be renewable at five-year minimal renewal periods. Canton would inform the county at least two years in advance of any intent to terminate the agreement.
• Canton would execute a “mutually acceptable” automatic aid agreement.
• Move forward with operating the Laurel Canyon station “should the fire station when completed not be acceptable for use by the county. The county would have no further obligation.”

For its part, Cherokee County would:

• Operate the fire station “at no additional charge to the city of Canton. The area covered by the operation shall be five radial miles or an area agreeable by both parties.”
• Execute a mutually acceptable intergovernmental agreement to equip and operate the Laurel Canyon station.
• Assign an ambulance squad for base operations from the station.
• Provide training to Canton fire personnel in relation to the ladder company or other areas as requested consistent with the county training personnel availability.

The memo and subsequent discussion were reviewed and held after the committee heard an update from Canton Fire Chief Dean Floyd and Chief Financial Officer Nathan Ingram on the progress of planning for the new station.

Cherokee County has plans to close Station 9, which sits between Canton and Waleska along Reinhardt College Parkway. Instead of building two new stations so close to each, the county has proposed the city embark on a joint venture to build a station that would be utilized by both agencies.

Along with that hybrid model, the county and some on the city council have proposed a complete consolidation of fire services, a deal not supported by a majority on the council at the time.

Goodwin, who has opposed fire consolidation, noted he sees no harm in talking with the county about this proposed memorandum.

Huffman said he’d like to see more numbers brought forth as part of the discussion.

“This is bait to bring us to the table,” he added.

At first glance of the document, Ingram told the committee he did not see any potential cost savings to the city, as it would still own the building and would be staffing it with firefighters.

Rust, who also said he’s interested in talking with the county, added he hopes the county does not use the ambulance service as a “bargaining chip” in their discussions.

With that, Floyd added the city would have to re-design the fire station to accommodate the ambulance. He also stated he’s never seen a city-county hybrid operation that worked. The city of Woodstock attempted to merge with the county years ago, but could not come to an agreement suitable to both parties.

The fire chief also took issue with the use of automatic aid as a stipulation of the memorandum.

Despite what the “politicians” have said, Floyd noted no firefighter — whether they put on a Canton Fire or Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services uniform — will leave any part of the city or county unprotected. Along with the city of Woodstock, both agencies routinely respond to calls that fall outside of their jurisdictions.

The committee decided to move forward with scheduling a meeting with county leaders — with a third party mediating the gathering — to further discuss the memorandum.

Laurel Canyon Fire Station Update

Ingram told the committee the city has “been blessed” with cooperation from the weather to continue with the grading. About 1,500 loads of dirt have been moved, which he noted was the halfway point of the project. The council last week approved a change order with Weaver Grading to install a retaining wall for $$53,556.88.

The retaining wall installation was originally part of the contract to build the station, but contractors and staff determined it was better to install the wall now as opposed to waiting.

“Everything is running smoothly,” Ingram added.

Floyd informed the committee will send out requests for proposals for a design-build project for the fire station. Those proposals would come to the City Council in November to approve. If approved, construction could start in February or March and, depending upon the material used, the facility could be ready in four to six months.