COLDSPRING — While the Coldspring City Council agreed to the need for an agreement with the Emergency Services District for ambulance services, members did not agree to enter into an agreement for firefighting.
Mayor John Benestante said at the Aug. 4 meeting that he received an interlocal agreement from the ESD for firefighting and use of the city-owned fire department building for housing paid firefighters.
“I was informed that the building did not have air conditioning in the offices that the fire chief would use, and that there were no sleeping quarters in the building,” he said.
Benestante said that he feels the city does need a local agreement for EMS work, but any agreement for firefighting will be left until Jan. 1.
Resident Warren Rogers said his biggest concern is that from an ESD leadership standpoint, there's a lack of honesty and an attempt to drive a public perspective that isn't truthful.
“People are only aware of what they're being fed,” he said. “So now we need to change the diet.”
Gerald Deeter pointed out that in the plan to consolidate the county’s nine fire departments, the ESD, is asking the participants to give up their non-profit status as well as all of the assets those departments have accumulated.
“Where is the justice and the fairness in that?” Deeter asked. “This fire department started in 1970 and they're expected to cater to (the ESD) just so that they can be a member of their wonderful group.”
Benestante said that the ESD also is asking those departments to give all of the funds that were raised by the firefighters themselves.
While the council took no action, Benestante said that because of the disagreements, they will “let that dog lie and we'll see where it goes.” However, there will be an interagency agreement for EMS services.
Benestante also said the city would be interested in appointing its own Fire Marshal, ostensibly to help with grant requests.
In other business, council members:
