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Commissioners debate interim fire-services agreement for Midway; reimbursement and duration questioned
Summary
County officials reviewed a proposed interim agreement to provide fire services to the city of Midway after the city’s certification was suspended. Commissioners voiced concerns about duration, staffing costs, ISO implications and reimbursement; board did not record a final vote in the transcript and directed clarifying follow-ups.
County leaders discussed a proposed short-term agreement to provide fire services to the city of Midway while the city works to reestablish its certification.
Kelly Davis, the county attorney, explained the draft agreement: the county would provide interim fire services and be reimbursed monthly by Midway for direct costs plus overhead, with plan review fees payable to the county at the time of submission. "Reimbursement will be essentially by the hour for equipment, by personnel, plus overhead," Davis said.
Brian (Fire Department staff) told commissioners the county had already spent just under $10,400 to bring a county-owned apparatus back to operational condition and estimated projected work at roughly $18,000 before pausing further spending. He said the apparatus would be usable in the county fleet if the board chose not to return it to Midway.
Commissioners expressed mixed views. Some, including Commissioner Stevens and Commissioner Walden, supported helping Midway short-term but wanted firm hourly reimbursement rates and limits on duration. Concerns included potential negative effects on the county’s ISO rating if the county extended coverage without additional staffing and equipment, a point staff raised referencing the Georgia Fire Standards and Training Council. "Any kind of extended duration ... could negatively affect ISO rating for the county and other areas," staff explained.
Board members also noted there had been a gentleman's agreement since 2021 to assist Midway, and said they expected the city to reimburse costs rather than rely on county generosity. County staff confirmed Midway had not paid anything for services to date. The draft agreement would be effective upon execution by both parties and run for 120 days, subject to two consecutive 60-day extensions; either party could terminate earlier.
The transcript records extensive discussion and several requests for clarifying figures and limitations, but does not record a definitive vote on executing the MOU during the public portion of this session. Commissioners asked staff to finalize hourly rate details, clarify the scope of reimbursable services, and confirm hydrant and infrastructure readiness before bringing a final agreement back to the board.
