Public speaks on possible merger of fire departments

Bath Volunteer Fire Department Chief Sean Johnson, standing front, answers questions about the possibility of merging the Bath and Clearwater fire departments. Pictured seated left is Aiken County Councilwoman LaWana McKenzie. Standing right is attorney Margaret Pope. Staff photo by Haley Hughes.

GRANITEVILLE -- The public gave input Thursday on the possibility of merging the Bath and Clearwater fire departments, and while some agreed the idea has merit, several others were concerned about several points raised.

Aiken County Councilwoman LaWana McKenzie, who represents the area, and the chiefs of both fire departments believe the merger would benefit residents of the area in many ways, especially by providing more efficient service, and would go a long way toward settling a decades-old uncertainty over which fire department handles which area.

McKenzie, officials with the fire department and the attorneys who have conducted research on the possible merger spoke to an audience of approximately 100 at Midland Valley High School.

McKenzie said there is land on Highway 1 she calls "no man's land," and for years, neither the Bath nor Clearwater fire departments could agree on which one would serve it. Both departments wanted it for the purposes of collecting fire fees. In trying to find a solution, talk surfaced of merging the two departments to create one united entity.

"My heart sang when I heard, 'Let's look at that,'" she said. "During the talks, it was truly, truly, truly what is best for the citizens. Whatever comes from this is better than what was.

"The main thing is there would be enough people to take calls and enough people to maintain the equipment," she added.

The two fire departments spawned from the creation of the Bath Water and Sewer and Clearwater Water and Sewer special purpose districts, according to attorney Margaret Pope, because, up to that point, no other entity was providing fire protection services. The water and sewer districts took on the provision of providing fire protection because there was a need. However, water and sewer districts do not have any legal ground to do that, she said.

A solution is to combine the two departments into one and make it a nonprofit.

"A nonprofit has clear, legal authority to provide fire protection services. Is this the only way? No, it's not," she said, noting that it is likely the most sensible and quickest solution. "You need to have it set up so there are no bumps along the way."

Christy Coleman, who sits on the Clearwater Water and Sewer District Commission, took issue with lack of notice that discussions on a possible merger were happening.

"It's not fair. Bath or Clearwater had no inkling this was going on," Coleman said.

The crowd was reminded that nothing aside from discussions has occurred. No paperwork has been filed by the attorneys.

The fire department would be governed by a seven-member board made up of two water and sewer commissioners from both Bath and Clearwater and three people appointed from the areas not covered by the districts. It has been discussed that the board members would likely be appointed and not elected. There would be one fire chief, but no existing fire departments would close. The board would set its own bylaws and determine fire fees.

Currently, Clearwater's fire fee is $46 and Bath's is $50, according to Bath Fire Chief Sean Johnson. Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt is chief of the Clearwater Fire Department.

Several people spoke out on not being able to elect the fire department's board members, especially since some areas do not fall within the districts now. Where is their representation, they asked. What's more, they maintained, the department's bylaws should be set by the public, not a board.

Haley Hughes is approaching her 5-year anniversary as the Aiken County government reporter with the Aiken Standard. Hughes, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, hails from Knoxville, Tenn.