Citizens responded to a proposed consolidation of city and county fire services with concern during two Oct. 29 public information meetings.
Kent Greene explained a report completed by Emergency Services Consulting International during the meetings. The report, released earlier in October, confirmed the feasibility of consolidation and outlined steps the county and city could take to collaborate or consolidate.
Lifelong Wilmington resident Cathy Shipton was one citizen who shared worries about consolidation during the meetings. Like others, she referred to the 2008 merge of city and county water and sewer services to form the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority as an example of lost control and public accountability.
“I don’t think the citizens really realized what was happening with that utility authority talk, when the authority was coming into existence. … They didn’t realize what the ramifications were, and what was going to happen,” Shipton said.
Owen Wexler said he supports collaboration between the two departments in pursuit of efficiency, but the outcome of the utilities consolidation leaves him hesitant to support a full merger.
“In this community, that word has different meanings than it will in other communities because of the power of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority,” Wexler said.
Greene noted that lack of control is one disadvantage of consolidation listed in the feasibility report.
Greene acknowledged the city and county fire departments currently serve their communities well, but because the departments already work together to provide the quickest service possible through mutual and automatic aid agreements, Greene said it makes sense to consider consolidation.
“They already work well together. They already have a lot of similarities. It would be a logical next step,” Greene said.
The report outlines three different paths to consolidation, including two options in which the departments would remain distinct legal entities while sharing administrative and support services, training opportunities, equipment and service responsibilities.
Whatever option county and city elected leaders choose to pursue, Green said it will require a lot of slow, measured deliberation.
“This is not an overnight process, regardless of what path is chosen. … It is not a quick process and it’s not an easy process,” Greene said.
New Hanover County Commissioners Vice-Chair Beth Dawson said she was grateful to hear public concerns during the meeting. While she is still carefully reviewing the report and waiting to see survey responses from city and county fire staff before settling on a stance, she pledged to keep the public as involved as possible throughout the process.
New Hanover County Fire Chief Donnie Hall confirmed similar concerns about loss of control circulating among county fire staff, but he also pointed out the commitment from city and county officials to be cautious as the process moves along.
“There’s no big push to jump full steam ahead into consolidation, but some small steps in that direction might be prudent and might be the first thing,” Hall said. “We want to make sure if we do this, we’re doing it right.”
Employee survey results will be sent to New Hanover County Commissioners and Wilmington City Council to consider before ESCI presents to the boards during Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 meetings, respectively.
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