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Pender County commissioners approve memorandum to begin EMS-fire merger; town halls scheduled
Summary
The Pender County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a memorandum of understanding that begins a planned merger of Pender EMS and multiple local fire departments into county operations, with a target effective date of July 1, 2026.
The Pender County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that starts a formal process to merge Pender EMS and multiple local fire departments into county-run emergency services, with a target merger date of July 1, 2026.
County Manager Miss Fulton described the MOU as "a formal, but not a legally binding agreement that outlines our intentions to collaborate on a shared goal." The document, she said, lays out an interim operations period, the projected merger date, task lists and responsibilities for transferring assets and addressing employee benefits and volunteer continuity.
The vote followed extensive public comment and questions from commissioners about costs, staffing and community input. Dozens of residents called for town halls and full financial details before the board moved forward. Several speakers urged the commission to delay…
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