Liberty County renews Riceboro IGA and approves ride‑along MOU as commissioners press on billing and response times

Liberty County approved two public‑safety items on June 18: renewal of the IGA with the City of Riceboro for fire response and an MOU to allow an additional military unit to conduct clinical ride-alongs with county EMS.

The Riceboro IGA, which lasts through June 30, 2027, maintains the same terms as the current contract. County staff said the arrangement has included a pay-per-call method tied to FEMA reimbursement schedules and that the county has processed one payment so far this fiscal year.

County EMS also presented an MOU to allow a fourth military unit to perform ride‑alongs while members are home to maintain clinical skills. The board approved that MOU.

A prolonged discussion followed about the county�s policy of billing individuals and municipalities for fire and emergency responses. Commissioners questioned the size of some bills and the process used to determine charges. Fire leadership explained that the county uses FEMA-based reimbursement rates and that billing has been in place since the county fire program started in 2019, and that staff reduce charges in some cases.

Officials also discussed volunteer department response protocols. Staff explained dispatch waits for a volunteer response (two minutes) before dispatching county units to avoid gaps in coverage, and noted geographic constraints and ISO rules that affect station placement and insurance ratings.

The board approved the Riceboro agreement and the ride-along MOU and directed staff to continue reviewing billing practices and response-time improvements.