Fire Dept. Consolidation Gets Closer Look

The president of the Public Policy Forum will speak to the Oak Creek Common Council tonight about his organization's study on consolidating southern Milwaukee County fire departments.

Rob Henken is scheduled to give a presentation and take questions at 6 p.m. in the 8640 S. Howell Ave.

It figures to be the most in-depth discussion to date on the Public Policy Forum's report of the Oak Creek, Franklin, Hales Corners, Greendale and Greenfield fire departments.

The study came after about a year of research, involving fire chiefs and administrators from all five communities who explored the range of consolidation possibilities.

Local officials last year in the face of ongoing budget struggles for municipal governments. The Public Policy Forum report presents three models of how that could be done:

• A coordinated support services model would involve comparatively minor changes, such as consolidation in training, vehicle maintenance and fire inspection services for the five departments.

• An operational consolidation model goes deeper. Operations would be unified under a "closest unit responds" approach, regardless of municipal boundary. But the departments remain separate entities.

• Under a full consolidation model, the five departments would merge into one, with its own governance structure, budget, equipment and personnel.

Reaction has been mixed so far. A full consolidation , but Oak Creek officials have said they are receptive to several of the suggestions laid out in the report.