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Treasure County and town begin rewriting interlocal agreements for fire, shared services and equipment
Summary
County attorney presented a consolidated draft to update decade-old interlocal agreements covering fire protection, shared services, vehicle ownership and cost splits; officials agreed to meter water use, consider a capital fund for equipment, and have the county attorney draft a formal revision for review.
Treasure County and town leaders opened a special joint meeting Aug. 20 to begin revising interlocal agreements that govern fire protection, shared services and shared equipment, the county attorney said.
The county attorney told the group the current fire agreement lapsed in 2020 and had been operating on a year-to-year rollover, while the shared-services agreement runs through June 30, 2026. The attorney presented a consolidated draft that combines two local agreements and uses last fiscal-year numbers "to give you the big picture of what's the incentive right now," the attorney said.
Officials discussed several recurring issues: outdated equipment lists, inconsistent ownership records for vehicles, flat-fee cost splits that do not reflect inflation, and how workers' compensation and supplemental disability insurance for volunteer firefighters are paid. The draft shows last year—ounty reimbursement for workers' comp at roughly $2,000 and the town reimbursed about $750, and the parties discussed either keeping a flat contribution or tying the county/town shares to roster size.
The county attorney suggested simplifying language where statutory requirements do not allow change and using clearer, shorter wording where possible. On capital needs, one participant proposed creating a capital improvements fund so unspent training or operating dollars could roll into a reserve for equipment — such as mobile data terminals and vehicle replacements — rather than being lost at fiscal year-end.
Speakers also flagged vehicle ownership questions and the fate of aging apparatus. Participants agreed that vehicles that are essentially out of service should be disposed of rather than stored indefinitely. One town speaker said several older units had already been taken to auction and that selling obsolete equipment could provide funds for maintenance and capital needs.
The county attorney said she would draft the next agreement reflecting the meeting's decisions and circulate it to both sides for review. If additional discussion is needed, a follow-up joint meeting can be scheduled; otherwise each jurisdiction will review the draft independently.
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that was moved and seconded and carried.
