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Fire chiefs, trustees discuss territory study cost and feasibility
Summary
Local fire officials and trustees exchanged views on whether Henry County should study forming a consolidated fire territory; a territory study by a consultant (Baker Tilly) was cited as roughly $35,000 and not guaranteed to eliminate independent stations. Some officials cautioned that territory formation would require state-level steps and be resource-intensive.
Several speakers urged the county to evaluate whether a consolidated fire territory would improve coverage and funding efficiency. A public commenter suggested engaging consultants; Sulphur Springs Fire Chief Heath Hudnut said he had contacted Baker Tilly and shared a study-cost estimate: "For me to do a territory is gonna cost us $35,000 I don't know what that would look like if we all went together."
Hudnut said a territory study would not necessarily eliminate independent stations and that LIT allocations alone would not cover study or transition costs. Another participant urged the council to confine the meeting to the posted agenda item, warning that territory formation is a complex, state-involved process unlikely to be resolved in a single session.
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