The city of Fort Oglethorpe will assume the responsibilities of providing fire protection services to some of Catoosa County’s unincorporated areas once served by Post Volunteer Fire Department and the city.
This is essentially an extension of previous agreements between the city, the county and Post VFD. County commissioners last week unanimously approved compensating the city $175,00 annually, with monthly payments of $14,583, for this service.
“Instead of cutting financial aid, the city would offer service to the county and the county would help serve the city,” City Manager Ron Goulart said.
The county originally considered severing ties concerning fire service with Fort Oglethorpe, except for mutual aid response, when a new fire station located near Lake Winnepesaukah and Westside Elementary opened.
Though the contract to offer protection outside the city limits expired in January, Fort Oglethorpe’s firefighters continued covering the area while Station 7 was being built off Lakeview Drive.
Station 7 is now open, staffed and began answering calls March 14, the day the city approved this new agreement. County approval of the contract came the following day.
“Funding wise, it will be nearly impossible to maintain service levels without this agreement,” Fire Chief Bruce Ballew said during the city council meeting.
When asked by Councilman Johnnie “Red” Smith what the city would lose if it signed the agreement, Ballew replied, “Nothing. We’re gaining two stations and getting a better quality of service.”
Due to the mayor and one councilman being absent, Fort Oglethorpe officials considered postponing voting on the contract but Goulart advised it more prudent to vote rather than table the matter.
“This has taken a lot of time to negotiate,” Goulart said. “It gives us four stations rather than two, plus you keep the funding.”
Another benefit of the cooperative agreement will be reflected in the ISO (Insurance Services Office) insurance rating for both the city and the county. This number, currently an ISO 3 for the city and ISO 5 for the county (lower is better), is used to determine fire insurance premiums.
Ballew said the county’s support will preserve local ISO ratings.
Fort Oglethorpe’s Fire Station 10 is located off Mack Smith Road and is less than two miles from the county’s new Station 7. Fort Oglethorpe also operates Station 1 adjacent to the U.S. Post Office and Station 8 on Old Mill Road in the Boynton area.
Since it is so close to the county’s newest station, Ballew told councilmen that Station 10 could be reassigned as a training facility.
The county now operates seven stations: Station 1 in downtown Ringgold, Station 2 in Woodstation, Station 3 on U.S. Highway 41, Station 4 on Keith Road, Station 5 on Dogwood Valley Road and the newest, Station 7, on Enterprise Drive.
The county recently acquired property for future construction of a station near the county industrial park on Alabama Highway and plans, eventually, to build a new station near the Benton Place Campus that is very near the city’s Station 8.
When the county builds a station to serve the Boynton area this recently signed agreement will probably be terminated, according to elected officials.
Following recent upgrades to the county’s 911 emergency communications system and knowing Station 7 would soon open, area firefighters worked together revising maps used to dispatch firefighters.
Throughout talks of consolidation and about who was responsible for serving what areas, the foremost consideration was always given to the question, “is this in the public’s best interest?”
That focus has not changed, as became evident when Fort Oglethorpe Councilman Charles Sharrock asked, “Will the closest station respond to a call, regardless of being in or out of the city?”
Chief Ballew’s answer: “Yes.”