Council approves month-to-month extension of Dorcas interlocal agreement while county completes fire-district selection

Crestview City Council on June 9 approved a month-to-month extension of the interlocal agreement that reimburses the city for responding to emergency calls in the Dorcas Fire District’s interstate area. The extension passed 4-0 with one absence.

Fire department staff said the city has responded to interstate calls from Station 2 (the PJ Adams station) for years and that Dorcas’ dissolution left a service gap the county is trying to fill. The county issued an RFP that closed May 20; the selection committee met June 4 and staff said the county may recommend a provider in an upcoming County Commission meeting. Dorcas asked the city for a month-by-month extension while it finalizes staffing and district re-formation.

Staff told council Dorcas reimburses personnel costs under the interlocal and that call volume for the Dorcas district has been low — typically less than 10 calls a month and often less than five — and the city can terminate the extension with 30 days’ notice. City staff said Dorcas cannot access I‑10 directly and that municipal response remains the practical arrangement for the interstate corridor unless the county establishes a provider with interstate access.

Some council members asked whether the city should cap the total extension period; staff replied the city can end the agreement with 30 days’ notice if the council chooses to do so later. In public comment, resident Fred Butts and others expressed concern about response times on the rural Route 393 corridor and urged clear, published response-time data. The council approved the interlocal second amendment by motion on the agenda.