Volunteer companies encouraged to combine

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Units forming committees to consider merger details

By Preston Knight -- pknight@nvdaily.com

NEW MARKET -- The merger baton has officially been passed to Shenandoah County's southernmost town.

Following in the footsteps of fire and rescue services in Orkney Springs and Mt. Jackson, New Market's volunteer companies are going to begin getting serious about joining forces by assigning committees to study the issue. Strasburg's volunteer departments have held talks in the recent past as well, and the Shenandoah County Department of Fire and Rescue has encouraged groups in all towns to look to combining agencies.

"It's going to be a long process," New Market Fire Chief Matt Hughes said.

But it's one that can have a happy, worthwhile ending. Companies in Orkney Springs were the first to merge, followed by Mt. Jackson, and officials with both combined departments have spoken favorably of the move, highlighting the ability to share expenses and personnel.

Hughes said he will lean on Mt. Jackson Rescue and Fire Chief Sam Bohus for advice during merger talks, and he's already been in contact with departments around the state about it.

"A lot of what I hear is good," he said. "There are some things we need to work out in the fire department on our own and the rescue squad on its own first."

Joining Hughes on the fire department's committee will be its president and some outside community members, likely including Town Manager Chris Boies. He said he has talked with squad President John Blosser, a Town Council member, almost daily about the matter.

"We're no strangers here," Hughes said.

Blosser said both organizations are "fairly close" to agreeing that a merger is the thing to do.

The fire department, which just received notice this week that it would again receive funding that had been withheld by the Board of Supervisors since last fall, is still working to gain back the public trust after a forensic investigator found evidence of possible fraud last year.

Hughes, who was named chief after the report surfaced and several volunteers were terminated, said the company is up to about 30 members, all of whom can be trusted.

"I feel comfortable with every member we got in here," he said. "They're in it for the right reasons."

Blosser has no qualms, either.

"The fire company's been doing real good," he said. "They're working hard. They did a good job straightening things out."