Council Approves Disbanding Regional Haz-Mat Team

Springdale, Fayetteville Will Cover the County

— The Fayetteville and Springdale fire departments will take the lead beginning Jan. 1 responding to incidents with hazardous materials anywhere in Washington County.

At A Glance

Intergovernmental Cooperation Council

Intergovernmental cooperation councils are established under state law. The law requires the executives of all political subdivisions of each county to meet regularly “for the purpose of encouraging cooperation by the various local government jurisdictions within each county in the most efficient use of their mutual resources and in the providing of services to their local communities in the most efficient and mutually advantageous manner possible.”

The councils are made up of the county judge, the county clerk and the mayor of each city and incorporated town. At least once annually, the council “shall review the delivery of services by the various local government subdivisions within the county” in these areas:

-Law enforcement services

-Fire protection services

-Jail facilities and correctional services

-Ambulance and emergency medical services

-Library services

-Motor vehicle liability insurance

-Worker’s compensation coverage

-Solid waste management services

-Street, road and highway repair and construction

-Parks and recreation facilities and services

-Planning and zoning services

-Health and sanitation services

-Public transit and transportation services

-Any other service area of local government

Source: Arkansas Code

The Washington County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council, composed of mayors and the county judge, on Monday approved disbanding a regional hazardous material response team.

“The team formed in 1988 to fill a void that we had and that being the ability to provide sufficient Haz-Mat response both with training and equipment,” said John Luther, director of the county Department of Emergency Management.

The regional team consisted of first responders from Springdale, Fayetteville, Bella Vista, Bentonville, Rogers, Siloam Springs and Lowell, said David Dayringer, Fayetteville fire chief.

The Fayetteville and Springdale fire departments have increased training, added equipment and are able to adequately cover the county, Luther said. Both departments will continue to pay about $20,000 annually for the team.

“They felt like, along with Rogers and others, that if they kept those dollars within their cities, they could continue to build out and have a sufficient Haz-Mat team equipped and trained,” Luther said.

Benton County’s intergovernmental council approved disbanding the regional team last month.

The smaller cities and towns in Washington County will continue to help pay expenses for the two-city team.

The cities and the county have contributed 38 cents per capita based on the 2000 census for the regional team, Dayringer said.

The council approved Fayetteville, Springdale and Washington County to receive money using the same rate with 2010 census data. That money will be collected through the Washington County treasurer and administered by the two large city fire chiefs and county emergency manager, Luther said.

“Under this proposal, the cost would increase for those cities who had population increase and decrease for anyone who has not,” Dayringer said.

Greenland Mayor Bill Groom asked if the coverage for hazardous materials would change. Dayringer said towns will not notice a difference from the way they are covered now. If a small fire department responds to an incident and detects hazardous materials, the Fayetteville and Springdale team will respond, Dayringer said.

Small cities will also get a chance to train to enhance their Haz-Mat response, according to a proposal written by Dayringer.

Luther, Dayringer and Irwin will report annually to the council on the use of the money.

“I’ve talked to our chief and he’s talked to you all and understands what’s going on here,” said Prairie Grove Mayor Sonny Hudson. “I have a lot of faith in these folks sitting right here.”

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