Should South Milwaukee consolidate its fire, emergency medical and/or dispatch services with Cudahy and St. Francis?
I think it’s much too early to say. We need facts.
And that’s what the three cities are seeking in a study to be done by the Public Policy Forum.
For its part, the South Milwaukee City Council vote unanimously to authorize spending $5,000 toward our portion of the study at its meeting Tuesday night.
Check out the resolution here. From it:
… The City of South Milwaukee hereby pledges its support and authorizes $5,000 in financial assistance to participate in the Public Policy Forum’s fact-based effort to review the potential for coordinating, sharing, or consolidating fire services, EMS services, police dispatch, and/or fire dispatch services as a means of improving the cost-effectiveness and maintaining the quality of such services to the extent possible.
St. Francis and Cudahy were expected to approve the same resolution Tuesday night.
I look forward to the results of the study and the information it will give us toward helping make this decision — one that we have to consider as we confront a $160,000 loss of paramedic revenue from the county this year (and another significant cut likely in 2013).
I continue to believe strongly that consolidation should be explored with some of our city services, especially in these economics times. At the same time, I will be hesitant to support a consolidated service that is any worse than the existing service.
In other words, if we can do it the same or better for less money, great. If not, I would have a hard time backing the change.
I’ll keep you posted.
South Milwaukee Blog 
Pingback: Council Backs Second Walmart Extension And Other South Milwaukee Council Meeting Highlights | South Milwaukee Blog
Why all of a sudden consolidate now?
After so many years of talking about it when the economy was doing fine, sure SM hit some bumps down the road but it recovered. Now all of a sudden because the economy took a little further dive, EVERYBODY wants to bail out. If the city wants a solution, look at what the citys forefathers did, use that as a reference.
I’m no politician, but why not ask CAT to maybe help offset the cost of $160,000 for the emergency services and in return to CAT reduce in what they owe in taxes :cough: TIF :cough:. $160K isn’t nothing to CAT, heck even ask the new famed Walmart for a little more help.
What seperates South Milwaukee from the rest of the other cities is their emergency services. I know (I asked) that the SMFD cleans their med rigs twice a week when only the state requires it to be once a week. Why? well because the SMFD is very proactive. Knowing that the medical rigs are the cleanest around, it gives you relief that you are in very good hands.
Now the SMPD, they department is very tough on drunk driving. If I’m correct, the state if Wisconsin said the the SMPD is one of the most strictest departments in Wisconsin to crack down on drunk driving. The reason to this also is a very proactive Police Department.
Greendale recently put $5,000 into this consolidation review just to so the other communities quit bothering Greendale. Greendale knows what it has and that they plan to keep it. (Will not consolidate)
Now if South Milwaukee decides to go the consolidation route, then the city turned its back on its motto – “Proud Past, Promising Future”. The city is going to wake up with a even more headache than what it really needs.
Don’t play the numbers game just to save pennies, live up to the SM motto.
So this is now the third or fourth time consolidation has been discussed….It should have happened long ago!!!! Talk, talk, talk, but when the vote is taken no municipality wants to lose it’s autonomy. It works great on the north shore. You’re right…just raise taxes like you have done in the past. Another option is to give the paramedic program up, lay off the 9 or 12 firefighters, and have Oak Creek service SM. They have too do that to keep County funding. But Wait!!!…again just raise taxes next year!!!!
Pingback: South Milwaukee Fire Captain Appointed Acting Chief | South Milwaukee Blog