City of Beloit, Town of Beloit Begin Sharing Some Fire, EMS Services

The City of Beloit and Town of Beloit will begin sharing some fire and emergency medical services on an interim basis while the two communities continue to explore consolidating fire and EMS operations.

The two governing bodies unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement Monday night that formalizes an interim plan to address immediate needs in the region. The shared services will begin on effective immediately.

The updates include:

• 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.
• 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.

 

“This agreement helps us maintain the high level of services expected by residents,” said Town Administrator John Malizio. “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.”

The cost-sharing agreement is set for one year with automatic renewals for one-year terms. Each party may decline renewal or terminate the agreement with 120 days’ written notice.

“We are proud to partner with our neighbor to maintain quality fire and EMS services in the region,” said Interim City Manager Elizabeth Krueger. “This agreement reflects our shared commitment to ensure every person in our area receives the help they need when it matters most.”

Consolidation discussions are still underway. The decisions Monday night by the Beloit City Council and Town of Beloit Board of Supervisors were made to address immediate service needs while that work continues.