- April 24, 2024
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Citing the city’s “fierce independence,” Flagler Beach officials on Monday ended the conversation about merging the city’s fire department with the one operated by Flagler County.
Discussions about the merger began in May, when the Flagler Beach City Commission decided to explore the possibility at the urging of Commissioner Kim Carney, who said doing so might save the city money while increasing its safety rating. Commissioners created a list of questions for county staff about how the merger might look.
During Monday’s workshop meeting, Flagler County Administrator Craig Coffey presented to the County Commission a draft of answers to those questions and an outline of four potential ways the two municipalities’ fire services could merge. The possibilities would save the city anywhere from $258,000 to $125,000 yearly.
County commissioners were receptive to the idea but asked to hear from Flagler Beach commissioners, who sat in the audience.
Flagler Beach Commission Chair Steve Settle spoke on behalf of his commission, saying Flagler Beach would not be continuing the discussion of the merger.
“One of the things that I think is of paramount concern to everyone in Flagler Beach is that the character of our small community will change,” Settle said.
Although the city has nothing against working with the county, Settle said, it will not be ceding control of its fire department.
“We’re going to retain our independence no matter what,” Settle said.
Flagler Beach’s fire department operates on a budget of about $602,000 annually. Coffey’s four possible scenarios for the merger all cost Flagler Beach less than that, depending on what kind of services the city wished to provide.
Coffey’s first option was not a realistic one, he said: Flagler County could serve Flagler Beach with the county’s fire department, with no unit designated to the city of Flagler Beach. The county would operate a truck out of Flagler Beach’s fire station, as it currently does.
This would not cost Flagler Beach anything, but would drastically reduce the level of service to the city and was not a serious suggestion, Coffey said. Rather, he presented it as a way to contextualize his other scenarios, in which service levels increased alongside cost.
If Flagler County Fire Rescue were to fully absorb the Flagler Beach Fire Department, the city would owe the county a flat fee of $475,000 annually. The county would maintain property and equipment, and all Flagler Beach employees would become county employees. A dedicated service engine would remain on the barrier island at all times. The annual fee would be fixed for five years, with increase limits for the subsequent five years.
Under Coffey’s third option, Flagler Beach would retain its existing unit in the city with enhanced advanced life support provided by a medical truck. Flagler Beach would retain ownership of its facilities and equipment and would purchase new equipment when needed. This service would cost about $468,000 annually. All Flagler Beach employees would become Flagler County employees.
Finally, for an annual cost of about $342,000, a dedicated firefighter/paramedic team would remain stationed in Flagler Beach and an ambulance would be housed on the barrier island, but it would potentially be sent off the island during peak hours. Flagler County would only retain five Flagler Beach employees under this option.
Settle said the Flagler Beach City Commission would look at the proposed options and that Flagler Beach hopes to continue to work with the county for medical services.
“Of course, we’re going to support you wholeheartedly in whatever you want to do,” Flagler County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin said.
