By Maggie Behringer
Correspondent
DALTON, Ga. -- A report that was due this month to recommend improvements and provide a plan for merging the Dalton and Whitfield County fire departments now is expected in early fall.
"It wouldn't surprise me if it was September before we saw the report," Dalton Fire Chief Bruce Satterfield said Thursday.
Representatives from the Atlanta consulting firm Mizzelle, Hodges and Associates spent the past week conducting tests and gathering information from both fire departments. The firm estimates it will need 60 to 120 days to finalize the report.
Dalton Mayor David Pennington proposed the merger as part of an ongoing effort to consolidate public services.
"We know we need to turn over every rock in providing efficient services," Mr. Pennington said.
County officials have been more cautious about the merger.
"The data will tell us what is possible," County Commission Chairman Mike Babb said Friday. "I'm leaning towards whatever is in the best interest of the residents of Whitfield County."
Chief Satterfield said a potential merger is only one aspect of the study. The firm surveyed the city and county fire departments in much the same way they are graded for their ISO rating, a gauge of protection quality.
The fire department itself accounts for 50 percent of the rating, while the water department and Dalton's communication center weigh in at 40 percent and 10 percent, respectively.
"It's everything from equipment on the trucks to the trucks themselves, personnel, training and the type of training," Chief Satterfield said.
The firm also conducted water studies at 20 sites and compiled information on the departments' pre-fire planning, their responses to fires and assets such as training facilities.
When graded in 2004, the city department received an ISO rating of 2, the second-highest rating on the scale of 1-10. The county department is rated at 5.
The city runs five stations and 87 full-time employees on a budget of $6.9 million. The county operates 10 stations, 60 employees and 80 volunteers on a $4.5 million budget.
Using its data, specifically its own ratings, the consulting firm will recommend any improvements either department can make and advise on the feasibility of a merger.
If a merger is realistic, the report should lay out steps for each department to reach the goal of efficient service without a budget increase for the county or a rating decline for the city.
Contact Maggie Behringer at maggie.behringer@gmail.com.
Continue reading by following these links to related stories:
Dalton, Whitfield study joint fire service
City, county examine shared services
Dalton, Whitfield look to combine some services, not government