Published: Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Stanwood fire deal cools heated dispute
The plan to join forces with Camano Island's department would help both stretch their budgets.
STANWOOD - Once a hot topic in town, the future of Stanwood's fire department appears to be simmering down as the city closes in on a new deal with Camano Island Fire and Rescue.
Doug McNall, Stanwood's interim fire chief, on Thursday will present to the City Council a proposed new contract to join forces with the Camano fire department.
Officials on both sides of the deal say it would stretch their budgets further by consolidating services.
The contract calls for Camano Island Fire Chief Mike Ganz and his staff to handle the Stanwood department's administrative duties.
Jeff Hofstad, an assistant fire chief for Camano, would take over the top spot at the Stanwood station now that McNall's contract is about to expire, said Darin Reid, a Camano assistant fire chief.
The two departments would train together and Camano would provide a command officer on call 24 hours a day, according to the deal.
In exchange, the city would pay the Camano department $72,000 a year.
The new proposal would add to a $499,000 deal signed earlier this year in which the Camano department provides paramedic services for Stanwood.
Such an agreement did not seem possible a year ago. Mayor Herb Kuhnly preferred a deal with Snohomish County Fire District 14, which covers the rural areas outside town.
Stanwood firefighters did not like that idea, citing problems they had with District 14's administrators. The conflict flared when Kuhnly asked for and got Fire Chief Kevin Taylor's resignation.
The City Council ended up siding with the firefighters but still wanted a merger.
McNall, a former Everett fire chief, was Taylor's interim replacement, starting almost from scratch with a lot of bad blood still unresolved.
"I didn't think I'd get it done," McNall said.
Kuhnly agreed that McNall walked into a tough situation. "I was one of Doug's roadblocks," Kuhnly said.
The mayor proved to be persuadable.
"I pretty much gave Doug the reins and said, 'Whatever you can make work,' " Kuhnly said. "He's a good negotiator."
Reid of the Camano department said the deal makes sense. Stanwood could not get a chief for $72,000, plus training, plus a command officer on call, he said.
And north Camano Island residents will get faster response times in areas closer to Stanwood, Reid said.
Even though Kuhnly thinks consolidating with District 14 still makes sense for Stanwood, the mayor also said he is pleased with the new deal with Camano Island.
"Sometimes your original opinion doesn't work out and you have to shift gears," Kuhnly said.
Doug McNall, Stanwood's interim fire chief, on Thursday will present to the City Council a proposed new contract to join forces with the Camano fire department.
Officials on both sides of the deal say it would stretch their budgets further by consolidating services.
The contract calls for Camano Island Fire Chief Mike Ganz and his staff to handle the Stanwood department's administrative duties.
Jeff Hofstad, an assistant fire chief for Camano, would take over the top spot at the Stanwood station now that McNall's contract is about to expire, said Darin Reid, a Camano assistant fire chief.
The two departments would train together and Camano would provide a command officer on call 24 hours a day, according to the deal.
In exchange, the city would pay the Camano department $72,000 a year.
The new proposal would add to a $499,000 deal signed earlier this year in which the Camano department provides paramedic services for Stanwood.
Such an agreement did not seem possible a year ago. Mayor Herb Kuhnly preferred a deal with Snohomish County Fire District 14, which covers the rural areas outside town.
Stanwood firefighters did not like that idea, citing problems they had with District 14's administrators. The conflict flared when Kuhnly asked for and got Fire Chief Kevin Taylor's resignation.
The City Council ended up siding with the firefighters but still wanted a merger.
McNall, a former Everett fire chief, was Taylor's interim replacement, starting almost from scratch with a lot of bad blood still unresolved.
"I didn't think I'd get it done," McNall said.
Kuhnly agreed that McNall walked into a tough situation. "I was one of Doug's roadblocks," Kuhnly said.
The mayor proved to be persuadable.
"I pretty much gave Doug the reins and said, 'Whatever you can make work,' " Kuhnly said. "He's a good negotiator."
Reid of the Camano department said the deal makes sense. Stanwood could not get a chief for $72,000, plus training, plus a command officer on call, he said.
And north Camano Island residents will get faster response times in areas closer to Stanwood, Reid said.
Even though Kuhnly thinks consolidating with District 14 still makes sense for Stanwood, the mayor also said he is pleased with the new deal with Camano Island.
"Sometimes your original opinion doesn't work out and you have to shift gears," Kuhnly said.
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