It will be interesting to see how the situation plays out over the next six to 12 months regarding the Town of Fountain Hills’ contract with Rural/Metro to provide emergency medical and fire protection services here.

We have no doubt that the private company’s recent Chapter 11 filing will have little to no impact on services currently provided here.

The bankruptcy proceedings come at a unique time for our town, however, as Fountain Hills just entered the final year of a five-year contract with Rural/Metro. It’s time to think about re-negotiating a new contract – or maybe something else?

It’s doubtful the town is actively contemplating forming its own fire department, but stranger things have happened. Rural/Metro for decades served the City of Scottsdale, where its corporate headquarters was located for years and years, but that municipality “went on its own.” So did the Rio Verde Fire District and the neighboring Fort McDowell Indian Community.

The Town Council is conducting an executive session Thursday evening to review the situation, as it should. Town officials need to proceed with caution and do the best thing for Fountain Hills and its citizens. They are taking a “wait and see” attitude with regard to the bankruptcy and will be evaluating the services we receive this fiscal year.

If all looks rosy, the town should go ahead and negotiate a new contract with Rural/Metro. But since the town already owns all the fire stations, trucks and other equipment, if things don’t look “rosy” into the future, contemplating forming its own department isn’t beyond the realm of possibility.