MIDWAY — Midway City Council members could decide by the end of the month whether to have Liberty County Fire Services take over their fire protection.
The county has been running calls on fire, accidents and backup for EMS since the city’s all-volunteer department resigned. Liberty County Fire Chief Brian Darby has submitted to both county commissioners and the city a plan for the county to cover Midway’s fire protection. County Commission Chairman Donald Lovette and Commissioner Marion Stevens, a former longtime volunteer firefighter, were in attendance at Midway’s council meeting Tuesday night.
“This is an opportunity to give the citizens the best of fire service,” Lovette said. “The door is open for us to do this. When they call 911, they want someone to come. They don’t care if that truck says ‘Hinesville’ — they want that truck to come.”
Chief Darby’s proposal is for a five-year contract, with a planned start date of January 1, 2025.
Under the contract, the county would add personnel over time and also add another vehicle. There are two Midway Fire Department vehicles, but both are owned by the county, Darby pointed out. One of the engines is already 27 years old and needs significant work. The pump was sound, but otherwise, it needed $40,000 of repairs to be road-worthy, Darby said.
The other, a 2010 engine, needs about $15,000 in repairs. The county already has put new tires on the 2010 vehicle, Darby said.
Darby also proposed building a new station, potentially on Highway 17 south of the city, instead of using the existing Midway Fire Department building.
Currently, the county’s fire services are responsible for more than 300 square miles and over time, more firefighters and supervisors will be added.
There are one-time startup costs to bring the fleet and equipment up to standard with county equipment, Darby said.
To start, the county will provide six firefighters dedicated to Midway, operating out of the county fire headquarters at its Miller Park fire station, with a cost of $451,000 in salaries and benefits.
“That gives you two full-time firefighters per day,” Darby said.
Darby’s plan includes having three lieutenants, one per shift, at a new station to be built. In year five, the total personnel allotment is nine firefighters with three lieutenants.
Over the span of five years, the cost to the city would be $5.96 million, covering all salaries, station building costs and equipment costs. “That is an A to Z product,” Darby said.
Midway Council member Clemontine Washington said constituents were asking her why the city couldn’t rehabilitate its current station and keep it.
“They were definitely concerned about the amount,” she said.
Darby said the total isn’t limited to one fire truck and six firefighters dedicated to covering Midway.
“You’re getting all of Liberty County Fire Services,” he said. “What you’re paying for is for us to take over and improve your ISO rating.”
Darby said the proposal, if adopted, would allow the county to improve the ISO ratings for Midway residents. He also has been getting calls about ISO ratings and that insurance companies are dropping coverage for some Midway residents.
In a budget hearing prior to their regular meeting, council members went over a potential $200,000 budget for the city fire department, including money to hire a chief and looking to use special purpose local option sales tax proceeds to renovate the existing Midway Fire Department building.
Lovette said the city making a decision “as soon as possible” would help Darby finish his plans for county fire coverage.
“We need time to look over it and study it some more,” Council member Stanley Brown said.
Midway’s next council meeting is scheduled for November 25.