Vote unites fire service for Fort Oglethorpe

FORT OGLETHORPE - The Fort Oglethorpe City Council and Post Fire Department finally forged a compromise extinguishing their differences to dissolve the private group and bring it under the city.

"It'd been a coming for a long time," said Council Member Johnnie "Red" Smith.

After months of debate, the council decided to add another part-time position to meet Post's staffing requests. The department signed over its equipment and said its members would apply for positions in the new city-run department.

"Everybody happy?" asked Mayor Ronnie Cobb just before the vote.

Half a dozen people around the council room applauded in response.

"We're very happy," said Capt. Robbie Tester, chairman of Post's board.

Capt. Tester called the compromise a "win-win for both." Under the agreement, the city would staff the Fort Oglethorpe station with three firefighters during the day and two at night. A second station would be staffed with two firefighters during the day and two at night. The city's initial plan called for three firefighters at the main station 24 hours a day and two at the second station 12 hours per day. Fire Chief Bruce Ballew said the new department would operate similarly to Post and should have room for all of Post's employees.

"We were separated by one position," Capt. Tester said.

Volunteer and off-duty firefighters still will be paid per response on bigger emergencies, Capt. Tester said.

Officials had said the city could not afford to continue contracting its fire protection with Post, which is a nonprofit group that has covered the city and part of the county since the 1950s.

Capt. Tester said Post would now have to send a notice to Catoosa County canceling its service in the Boynton area. With the changes in the city, Post will not have the funds to operate in the county.

Catoosa County then will have 120 days to either staff the Boynton area with its own firefighters or up the funding for Post so the group can continue coverage.

Reached by phone after the meeting, Catoosa County Commission Chairman Keith Greene said the decision was not a surprise and the county was ready to handle fire protection in Boynton.

"We're prepared to move in and provide coverage in that area," he said.

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