Sunny Hills fire department update - new information

The New Sunny Hills Fire Service is in operation, but Washington County is looking for equipment for the trucks.

County Administrator Pete Herbert and Public Safety Director Roger Dale Hagan went to the Sunny Hills fire house Monday morning to take possession of equipment that they believe the county owns. They were able to take possession of two trucks but were unable to take possession of other equipment due to legal action taken by the former fire service provider.

Herbert said that Greenhead, Country Oaks and Wausau volunteer fire departments are backing up Sunny Hills and will answer as primary until Wednesday. He said to call 911 as usual for response.

Paperwork was filed earlier this week on behalf of the Sunny Hills Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. to prevent the county from taking equipment SHVFD claims it owns. The paperwork was sent by Circuit Judge Allen Register to be reviewed and the reviewer said that the paperwork was not legal as it was filed on behalf of an organization. Register gave the plaintiffs 20 days to respond. For the time being the disputed equipment remains in place at the fire house that is owned by SHVFD, Inc.

Herbert, Hagan and Commissioner Strickland said they would consult County Attorney Gerald Holley on their next course of action. In the meantime Herbert said that the County was having a flat tire on one truck fixed and was rounding up equipment, including hoses, from various sources. Herbert said he expected that to take a day or two.

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners voted at its last meeting to have the two sides enter into mediation over the issue, and if that failed then the Sunny Hills Fire Service would take over as fire service provider on Nov. 30 as per the contract. Efforts to mediate the issue were not successful.

More coverage as the story develops.