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Staff Report

For the first time in well over a year, a special joint meeting will occur between the Winchester Board of Commissioners and Clark County Fiscal Court.

The Board of Commissioners and Clark County Fiscal Court will hold a special meeting on Monday, Aug.28, 2023, at 5:45 p.m. in the meeting room of the Clark County Board of Education Office, 1600 West Lexington Avenue, to discuss engaging in a feasibility study regarding a potential merger of the Winchester Fire Department and the Clark County Fire Department.

At previous meetings of the Clark County Fiscal Court and Board of Commissioners, the Greater Clark Foundation presented the concept of a public safety complex that could benefit and unify both county and city fire and EMS services.

This consideration comes as the Fiscal Court evaluates the feasibility of replacing Clark County Fire Station #2.

Simultaneously, the city of Winchester is interested in acquiring property for a new fire station.

Previously, the president and CEO of Greater Clark Foundation – Jen Algire – has advocated for the feasibility study.

“A new station on the property that we’re talking about doesn’t supplant any other station,” said Algire. “This is an opportunity to talk about unification because we have simultaneous needs from the city and county.”

Several officials, including Magistrate Robert Blanton have supported the idea of a special joint meeting.

The concept of a feasibility study has been supported, as has the idea of the public safety complex, though questions about finances and other matters have also been mentioned.