Canton Votes To Continue Laurel Canyon Fire Station Talks With County

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The city of Canton will continue negotiations with Cherokee County to see if both entities can come up with an intergovernmental agreement to jointly operate the city’s northwest fire station.

The Canton City Council at its Dec. 18 meeting 4-3 to continue discussion with the county. Council members Sandy McGrew, Bill Grant and Farris Yawn voted in favor of the proposal while Council members Jack Goodwin, Hooky Huffman and John Rust opposed the initiative. Mayor Gene Hobgood cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the motion.

The proposal to continue discussions was put forth by Grant, who said the vote does not lock the city into any agreement with the county. Grant said the city’s Fire Services Committee would continue discussions and if an agreement can be made, would request the full Council’s approval at the Jan. 22, 2015, meeting.

The county has released a preliminary outline of what a joint operation of the northwest Canton fire station would look like. Under that proposal, 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.

Under the proposed memorandum of understanding put forth by the county, both Rust and Huffman argued they did not see any benefit for the city to continue its negotiations. Rust stated that when he looks ahead 50 years into the future, he cannot envision a scenario in which one station in the city would be operated by the county and another four to five station would be operated by the city.

Huffman, who said he’s heard many mixed opinions about a hybrid operation, added he is struck by the lack of information on both sides of the issue.

Canton also needs to build a new fire station in the vicinity of Canton Marketplace near the future site of the replacement Northside Hospital-Cherokee facility. Additionally, Cherokee County has stated it needs to replace Station 3 along Hickory Flat Highway, which is near the development. Huffman noted Canton could very well be faced with a similar proposal from the county about another joint operation.

“You’re basically taking away the Canton Fire Department,” he said, adding he did not want to be “forced” into any situation where the city would have to rely on the county for its fire protection.

Farris Yawn, the newest member of the council, added he didn’t think there was any harm in continuing discussions with the county. While his “default” position is to put the city first, Yawn said if the facts show that a hybrid option would be best for the city, he could support that model.

Mayor Gene Hobgood said he felt like the county wouldn’t do anything “harmful” to the citizens of Canton. Additionally, he also said he envisions a proposal that would save the city money. Those savings can be applied to hiring additional firefighters and equipment needed by the Canton Fire Department.

So along with the cost-savings factor, Hobgood said the city’s decision to continue negotiations ”demonstrates that we are willing to work with the county in a cooperative effort to save taxpayer dollars for both county residents and city residents.”

What should you read next?

• Hobgood: “No Downside” To Proposed Fire Station Agreement with County
• Grant: Council Has a Duty To “Examine All Viable Options” For Fire Services
• Former Council Member Urges City To Reject County Fire Station Agreement
• Canton Reignites Fire Services Talks With Cherokee County
• Canton, Cherokee Leaders Continue To Negotiate Laurel Canyon Fire Station
• Hobgood: ‘Turf Protection’ Has No Place in Canton Fire Services Talks

Photo credit: Patch file