Search
Close this search box.

Fort Walton Beach City Council to review new fire services study proposal

The proposed nine-month evaluation would analyze cost-saving strategies and service efficiencies for Fort Walton Beach fire services, moving away from predetermined consolidation scenarios.

The Fort Walton Beach City Council will consider a proposal from AP Triton, LLC for a fire services consulting study at their regular meeting Tuesday, January 28.

  • The Wyoming-based consulting firm emerged as the top choice among three companies that submitted proposals for the study, according to Fire Chief Jeremy Morgan’s report to the City Council. Matrix Consulting Group of California and McGrath Consulting Group of Tennessee also submitted bids.

If approved, the study would take approximately nine months to complete and would be funded from the city’s 2024-25 General Fund Fund Balance. The cost remains unknown, as the sealed fee schedules will only be opened if the council awards the bid.

The scope of the new study differs from previous attempts, following the council’s October 2024 directive to remove predetermined outcomes and instead examine all potential strategies for cost savings and service efficiencies in the Fort Walton Beach area, including consolidation options.

Earlier versions of the study focused on three specific consolidation scenarios: merging under Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District’s management, combining under Fort Walton Beach’s leadership, or creating an entirely new district. 

  • In September, the council rejected a $57,000 bid from Matrix Consulting Group with a 4-3 vote.

The city initially sought to share the study’s administrative and financial burden with Ocean City-Wright to avoid potential bias and reduce costs for Fort Walton Beach citizens. However, in June 2024, Ocean City-Wright Chief Wagner informed the city his district would not participate. The district’s union leadership also expressed disinterest in the study.

Fire Chief Morgan previously expressed concerns about consolidation challenges, citing complications with combining debt services, equipment, personnel, pay plans, and pension plans. “We’ve been around since the 1940s. We have a lot of retirees on pension plans that the city will have to keep paying until they pass away,” Morgan told Get The Coast in a previous interview.

AP Triton representatives are expected to be at Tuesday’s meeting to give a presentation and answer council questions, according to city documents. The council will then decide whether to proceed with the study, which would examine current fire protection system operations, response capabilities, staffing, and other resources necessary for service delivery.

Any potential consolidation would require legislative action, as the Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District was created through legislation.

Join the conversation...

Continue reading 👇

Community Comments

“85 north was a mess. I left Wright at 6:15 pm going up Lewis Turner. Traffic started backing up about 1 mile before the intersection with 85, so I got...”
Respond
“Was this foul play? Cause of death? Didn't sound like he was dressed to go for a swim when last seen so I wonder why and how did he end...”
Respond
“This sounds like damage control right off??”
Respond
“FWB is dying and it brought it upon itself. The good ol boy system is still in place. We are nothing but a pass thru city. What a joke, these...”
Respond
“You forgot to add tattoo shops, thai restraunts, and smoke shops.”
Respond
“What is the update on this facility?”
Respond
“Another gas station. Just what this crappy city needs. Who is on charge of zoning this crap? All fwb is now is self storage, gas stations, and car washes, and...”
Respond
“It is my understanding that the Earnhardt foundation may be trying to push that track to NASCAR. Right now it features “ car-dominimums” and purchased lot of 440 acres”
Respond
“I want some public pools in Ft. Walton for citizens only. I want more shopping in Ft Walton. The mall may as well be closed, they all moved out to...”
Respond
“Great idea!”
Respond

GET OUR FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER

Get the weekday email that actually makes reading local news enjoyable again.