Muskego aldermen consider outside study of fire and EMS as volunteers, budgets and response times draw scrutiny

Muskego aldermen on Tuesday weighed whether to hire an outside consultant to analyze the city’s fire and emergency medical services after Test Corners Volunteer Fire Department officials described staffing levels, revenues and equipment needs.

City staff member Kate told the Committee of the Whole the study would compare Test Corners’ operations to industry standards, map call locations, review mutual-aid agreements and project future staffing and financial needs; three firms submitted proposals priced between about $33,500 and $57,000.

The conversation followed a motion to defer the item until the June 10 meeting; a roll-call vote on the deferral failed (Yes: Alderman Decker, Alderman Dilge; No: Alderman Wolf, Alderman Hamill, Alderman Bryce, Alderman Madden). With the item still on the floor, aldermen and department representatives then discussed service levels, funding and possible next steps.

Kate summarized the consultants’ proposed scope: a needs analysis comparing current operations to best practices, an inventory of assets (buildings and vehicles), a concentration study using GIS to map call locations, a projection of future staffing needs, and a financial feasibility review for options ranging from continued independent volunteer service to a hybrid or municipal department.

Test Corners representatives described current staffing and finances. A department representative said paid personnel staff “from 5 in the morning till 6 at night,” with volunteers covering nights and weekends; the department reported running EMS primarily out of one station and fire from three stations. Finance lead Dave said the department billed about $800,000 last year for EMS and paid roughly $500,000 in salaries; he said EMS revenue did not “cover our cost” and that about $100,000 of EMS receipts flowed back into the fire side in that year.

Officials said the department has used mutual aid about four times this year, most commonly calling New Berlin or Franklin for assistance depending on incident location. Committee members pressed for response-time data and asked staff to provide the department’s standard performance reports at a future public works and safety committee meeting.

Discussion focused on sustainability and options. Several aldermen said they favor an objective outside review to identify gaps and options. Alderman Wolf voiced concern that consultant reports can “lead us down a path” toward unfunded full-time staffing, and said he prefers exploring local options—shared services, hiring an ambulance company or administrative support—before committing to an expensive transition. Others argued a consultant can provide comparative data and realistic cost projections to inform, not dictate, council choices.

Kate said she had checked references and that the local firm’s principals bring decades of municipal experience; the other firms would incur travel costs. Committee members asked staff to verify references (Mequon, Oshkosh work was mentioned) before a council vote. The committee agreed to seek additional information and for at least one firm to present at the council meeting where a contract approval would be considered.

Aldermen also discussed volunteer recruitment and administrative support. Test Corners leaders said volunteer recruitment efforts include high school outreach and cadet programs, but acknowledged training and certification (EMT/paramedic) are time-consuming and that administrative functions (human resources, payroll, legal) are currently managed by volunteers or contracted support.

Next steps: staff will collect performance and response-time reports requested by the committee, verify consultant references and arrange presentations to the full Common Council if the committee forwards a contract resolution. Any consultant contract would return to the council for formal approval before work begins.