BELOIT, Wis. — Officials said on Tuesday that the City and Town of Beloit will begin to share some fire and emergency medical services on an interim basis while the two communities explore consolidating fire and EMS operations.
The Beloit City Council and Town of Beloit Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement Monday night that formalizes an interim plan to address immediate needs in the region. The shared services will begin effective immediately for one year, officials said.
The updates are as follows:
- Additional Ambulance in Region: As staffing resources allow, the City of Beloit will operate an additional ambulance in the region with the ability to provide emergency medical services in both communities. The costs to staff the ambulance will be 55% City of Beloit and 45% Town of Beloit to cover the personnel wages. The City of Beloit currently staffs two full-time ambulances and the Town of Beloit staffs one full-time ambulance. A fourth ambulance in the region will reduce strain on both communities to provide a quick EMS response.
- Skill Testing and Services/Training: The City of Beloit will provide skills testing and validation services to assess town personnel proficiency in fire suppression, EMS, and other competencies. The two departments will also conduct joint trainings to enhance operational compatibility across both departments. The town will reimburse the city for the services conducted by city personnel.
- Battalion Chief Services: The City of Beloit will provide battalion chiefs to the Town of Beloit for incident command and operational oversight as needed. The battalion chiefs will remain employees of the City of Beloit; the Town of Beloit will maintain operational control over township employees. The Town of Beloit will provide 25% of the salary cost for battalion chiefs. This will address staffing challenges at the battalion chief level in the Town of Beloit.
“This agreement helps us maintain the high level of services expected by residents,” Town Administrator John Malizio said. “We are thankful for the partnership and collaboration between the two departments to ensure our staff are equipped with the support they need so our residents receive a high standard of care.”…