Sunday Focus: City, county leaders plan to meet to discuss fire protection for area

Published 12:50 am Sunday, September 9, 2018

 

NATCHEZ — Improving fire protection is a priority for both Adams County and the City of Natchez and county officials say they plan to meet later this week to discuss ways to further expand the county’s fire coverage while further consolidating efforts with the city to achieve the common goal.

District 2 County Supervisor and Board of Supervisors President Calvin Butler said supervisors plan to meet Friday with Adams County Fire Coordinator Darryl Smith and Adams County Geographical Information System District Manager Peter Dale to start the discussion Butler said he hopes will lead to a collaborative effort to improve fire protection in both the county and the city.

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Adams County

Adams County has long discussed plans to build new fire stations and to hire its own firefighters to improve coverage in remote areas of the county.

Currently, Natchez provides supplemental fire protection for the county’s volunteer fire operations through an agreement with the county.

Butler said adding more fire stations in the county would spread coverage further out into the county, lessening response times for firefighters to reach fires and improving the county’s fire rating, which would also save county residents on insurance costs.

District 1 Adams County Supervisor Mike Lazarus agrees.

“The people out in the county need true fire coverage,” Lazarus said. “By the time we get out to some of these areas, the houses are burned up. … We can’t effectively improve the fire rating unless there is a station within five miles of the property. We don’t have fire stations within five miles of these houses out in the county.”

Lazarus said the county pays the city approximately $700,000 a year for fire service, and he estimates stand-alone service for the county would cut county costs but would cause the city to struggle.

“Maybe the city could close a couple of fire stations and move their men around to cover these new stations,” Lazarus said. “We don’t want to abandon the city. … I know they send a lot of calls into the county, but I don’t think they can operate without county funding.”

Natchez’s support

The fire support agreement between the city and the county works both ways, as evidenced by last Sunday’s fire at the old Prentiss Club building when several Adams County volunteer firefighters manned city stations while city firefighters battled the blaze, Acting Natchez Fire Chief Ventris Green said.

The city has recently been discussing the need to improve fire protection as well, specifically by working to obtain funding to purchase a new ladder truck in order to maintain the current fire insurance ratings in both the city and county.

“According to the state rating bureau, (the truck) is one of the things that they’re requiring for the city of Natchez in order for us to maintain the rating that we currently have,” Grennell said. “We’re trying to improve our city’s rating. … That’s critical for the citizens of Natchez, because we don’t want their homeowner’s insurance to escalate.”

Grennell said he knows very little about any of the county’s plans to build new fire stations. However, Grennell said he is willing to listen to any suggestion that will have a positive impact on city and county residents.

“If we’re talking about enhancing the fire rating for all of the citizens of Natchez-Adams County… then I’m all for it,” Grennell said. “Our priority is saving lives. If this is going to have a negative impact on our city rating, then I would not support it. … I’m willing to sit down and listen and work hand in hand with them if this is going to have a positive impact on everyone.”

The county’s plan

No hard blueprint or costs exist for construction, equipment or firemen in the budget yet, Butler said, but he hopes to begin addressing that at Friday’s meeting.

“Building costs are something we haven’t looked at yet,” Butler said, adding officials will decide later what the cost will be, and he believes city officials will be willing to work collaboratively to see the project through.

Smith said the plan for building stations is in its earliest stages of development.

“The first step is finding out where we’re going to locate the stations, finding the water supply and then getting the manpower,” Smith said. “Those are things that we’re going to be talking about (Friday).”

Lazarus said he and board officials are vying for at least three stations to be built.

“I’d like to get the new stations in the north and south part of the county and one near the Cloverdale and port area,” Lazarus said. “That way, the people out in the county will have true fire protection, can lower their fire rating and save hundreds on insurance.”

Dale, the county map expert, has already explored a few of the possible locations. However, many factors must be considered before the locations are determined, Smith said, including population and water sources.

Lazarus said the cost of manpower is also under consideration.

“These stations may have one or two full-time employees and one part-time. …,” Lazarus said. “As far as funding, I’m hoping we will find a way in our budget to do this. I don’t plan on raising taxes. I believe we can work with what we have.”

Why build new stations?

Butler said two main priorities are driving the effort to create new stations, the first of them being public safety — improving the county fire rating is second.

“Our No. 1 priority is to make sure that we’re saving lives out in the county area,” Butler said. “Our closest station to residential areas such as Washington and Sibley are inside city limits.”

Lazarus said he believes an expanded, consolidated effort would be good for both Adams County and Natchez.

“It’s a win, win for everybody,” Lazarus said. “I plan to ask (city officials) how can we make this work together. … At some point, the city needs to be involved. If the city feels it’s best for us to separate, we’ll do what’s best. I’m hoping we can continue to work together, but I’m determined that these stations will be built.”

Smith said he intends to work with the city on the matter, as well.

“Were in this together, the city and the county,” Smith said. “This will benefit not some, but all of the residents in Adams County.”

Butler said the county does not want to hurt the city’s fire department.

“This is not to take away anything from what the city is doing,” Butler said. “This is us working in conjunction with each other. … Our main goal is to save lives.”