Here is the joint resolution on the details of the breakup of the ESA as agreed to in mid-November by Thomasville Mayor Rick Singletary, County Commission Chairman Josh Herring and their respective city and county attorneys.
JOINT RESOLUTION FOR THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR THOMAS COUNTY CITIZENS
WHEREAS, emergency services have been provided to the citizens of Thomas County by the Thomas County Emergency Services Agency "ESA") for the past four years;
WHEREAS, the city council for the City of Thomasville ("the City") and the Thomas County Board of Commissioners ("the County") have determined that it is in the best interests of the citizens of their respective governmental units that the method of providing these services be changed;
WHEREAS, the City and the County desire to provide for continuation of all emergency services now offered and to designate the governing body that will be responsible for providing these services and the contributions of each of the parties to the other;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved and it is hereby resolved, as follows:
1. Fire Protection. The City will provide fire protection to its residents and the residents of Fire Districts 1 and 2 which are in the unincorporated areas of Thomas County. The County will provide fire protection to the residents of Fire District 3. The city will ensure a level of protection that maintains the current Insurance Services Office ("ISO") rating currently in effect. Pending final resolution of issues involving distribution of real property and equipment currently owned by the ESA, each item of fire related equipment will remain at its current location and will be utilized to meet the service demands contemplated by this resolution. The city will provide county wide rescue responses with the rescue truck now located at pending resolution of the equipment distribution issue.
2. The City's budget goal to provide the above referenced services is 2.2 million dollars for calendar year 2003. The anticipated millage to meet the budgeted goal is 3.5 mills for the city and Fire District 1. The anticipated millage for Fire District 2 is 2.5 mills. The County will pay to the City the funds generated by the millage levied hereunder as consideration for the services to be provided. At the en d of calendar year 2003, the millage contemplated under this paragraph will be adjusted to meet the budget set by the City for the following year. In the event it appears that the budget for calendar year 2004 or any succeeding year will result in a significant increase over the current year's budget, the City Manager will confer with the County Administrator before any final decision is made by the City regarding the budget to be set. The City and the County contemplate that the arrangements contemplated by this joint resolution will be maintained on a year to year basis; provided further, however, that in the event either party wishes to discontinue the provision of services pursuant to this joint resolution, twelve months' written notice thereof will be given to the other party.
3. E-911 and Dispatch. The County will provide E-911 services for all agencies and all jurisdictions in Thomas County from its budget and receive all ESA equipment currently being utilized to provide these services.
4. Emergency Medical Services. Thomas County will provide Emergency Medical Services to all residents of Thomas County from its budget and receive all ESA equipment currently being utilized to provide these services.
5. Emergency Management. The County will operate the Emergency Management Agency for the County. The City will contribute $60,000 per year to the operating budget of the Agency. The County will receive all ESA equipment currently being utilized to provide these services.
6. E-911 Facility. The City will provide the County the space designed and constructed in Fire Station No.1 to house the E-911 services under an intergovernmental contract.
7. The City and the County undertake the provisions of this resolution in contemplation that the terms hereof will remain in effect until December 31, 2005, and further agree that provisions for emergency services in Thomasville and Thomas County will be renegotiated durrng calendar year 2005, to be conducted no later than December 31, 2005.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and the County, through their cooperative efforts, will continue to provide the resources to ensure that the citizens of their respective governmental units will continue to receive the same high level of services currently provided.