I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy 250th Independence Day. As we all commemorated the birth of our nation and our inventive form of government, Hardeeville and Jasper County celebrated the implementation of “Operation Phoenix”. This initiative is the result of a collaboration between elected officials of both councils, emergency services personnel and administrators.
Conversations started over a year ago, focusing on the goal to provide the most efficient delivery of public safety to all the residents of Jasper County. Our councils asked our fire and rescue agencies to assemble a team and review every aspect of emergency operations throughout the county. The result was a plan to serve the needs of our rapidly growing region.
Put simply, Hardeeville’s Fire and Rescue department will service the entire southern portion of the county, including everyone inside the city limits and the adjacent areas in unincorporated Jasper County. Why is that important? Because of the confusing service lines that existed before, dispatching calls will no longer require the extra step to determine which agency to call out. Speed is gained. Duplicate stations, personnel and equipment will be eliminated. Cost savings are realized. Hardeeville enjoys an excellent IOS rating of 2 (1 is the best). Everyone in the service area will enjoy this rating and the potential savings on their homeowner’s insurance. Bottom line and most important of all, the potential to save lives and property is enhanced…