Onalaska council agrees to explore consultant for possible shared fire services with neighboring towns

Mayor Kim Smith opened discussion of a proposed multi-municipality review of fire services and asked City Administrator Rick to summarize the request. Rick said the municipalities had discussed options ranging from intergovernmental contract arrangements to full consolidation and requested guidance on whether councils wanted staff to pursue hiring a consultant to study feasibility and options.

Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Southworth and the fire chief cautioned that comparisons to recent consolidations in eastern Wisconsin (West Allis and Wauwatosa) are imperfect: those communities were similar in size, personnel and call volume, while Holman and Holland have fewer resources and, in some cases, no fire equipment. The chief said a consultant could translate local studies and provide concrete options for governance, staffing, apparatus needs and potential station locations.

Council members asked about the consultant’s likely output, timeline and costs. Staff said consultants typically synthesize existing local studies, offer models (contracting vs. combining departments), and recommend governance arrangements and staffing changes. Estimates from comparable efforts ranged from several months for an initial report to multiple years for full implementation depending on municipal buy-in and local variables.

Several alderpersons emphasized this was guidance only and that no funding or contract would be authorized without a future council vote. Rick said municipalities would likely share consultant costs if they decide to proceed and that staff would return with cost estimates and proposed next steps if the council wants to move forward.

The council did not authorize spending at the Nov. 11 meeting; members instructed staff to continue the conversation and come back with options, timing and cost estimates for formal consideration.