Excerpts from the Journal-Sentinel online: Twenty years ago, seven fire and rescue departments on the North Shore of Wisconsin came together to form a single, unified department. According to a new report by the Public Policy Forum, this consolidation has not only saved communities millions of dollars but also improved the quality of service provided. The report, titled “Come Together: An Analysis of Fire Department Consolidation in Milwaukee County’s North Shore,†states that if these seven municipalities had continued operating separate departments in 2014, they would have spent an additional $2.8 million annually to maintain the same level of service. Public Policy Forum President Rob Henken highlighted the success of the North Shore Fire Department as a model for other municipalities in southeastern Wisconsin. He encouraged local governments to consider consolidating services such as fire, police, health, and even school districts to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Henken pointed out that the region includes 146 municipalities and 92 school districts, offering significant opportunities for collaboration. While the North Shore communities took 10 years to reach the decision to consolidate in 1995, it was only possible due to the willingness of leaders to take a risk and prioritize the greater good over local control. Fire Chief Robert Whitaker, who has served with the department for two decades, emphasized the challenges involved. “It took elected officials willing to work together and give up some local control,†he said. “There was also the issue of identity—municipal names no longer appear on fire trucks or uniforms. But when you respond to an emergency, people don’t ask where you’re from.†Looking back, Whitaker believes the results speak for themselves. “We are providing a much better service at a lower cost now than before,†he said. The North Shore Fire Department recently earned accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, placing it among just 218 fire and rescue organizations in the U.S. to achieve this recognition. According to the report, the consolidated department now uses fewer resources than the seven separate units did 20 years ago. There are 10 fewer firefighters, but the current full-time professional force offers better training and faster response times. In the past, some police officers handled firefighting duties, and many firefighters were part-time volunteers. The number of fire stations has been reduced from seven to five, and the fleet has shrunk from 31 to 15 vehicles. Annual operating savings for each community in 2014 ranged from $14,279 in River Hills to over $1 million in Shorewood. Other communities saw savings like Bayside ($258,483), Brown Deer ($624,717), Fox Point ($294,720), Glendale ($106,867), and Whitefish Bay ($410,110). Over 20 years, the seven communities would have spent $3.4 million more replacing their old vehicles compared to what the North Shore Fire Department spent. Meanwhile, some neighboring areas still rely on external services. For example, the Village of Richfield contracts with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement, while West Milwaukee purchases fire and EMS services from Milwaukee. In 2012, the Public Policy Forum urged five southern Milwaukee County communities—Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, and Oak Creek—to consolidate their fire departments. Although the report suggested they could save $1 million annually and nearly $4 million over five years in vehicle replacement costs, the effort has not yet materialized. Foaming screw,XPS foaimg screw, screw for XPS ZHEJIANG JINJIA PLASTICS MACHINERY CO., LTD , https://www.jinjiascrew.com