Split Lindon council picks Orem for emergency services

LINDON — It's tough to take the emotion out of a decades-long relationship between Lindon and Pleasant Grove for fire and emergency services, but it came down to dollars Tuesday night.

After nearly two hours of discussion and public comment, the city council made what many of them called the most difficult decision they've faced as city leaders and voted 3 to 2 to contract with Orem for fire/EMS and dispatch services, rather than continue with Pleasant Grove.

"A lot comes down to concern about long-term relationships, we've had them with both cities," said council member Bruce Carpenter. "But as we look at the cost differential, what are the tangible and clear benefits of going one way or another?"

The discussion has been percolating since November when the city hired Lindon Police Chief Cody Cullimore to begin its own police force.

From there, the city had to make quick decisions regarding fire and emergency medical services as well as dispatch services, which were financially prohibitive for Lindon to do on its own.

"The mayor and counsel are grateful to both you partners for your willingness to provide this service," Mayor Jim Dain told officials and employees of both cities. "We really appreciate the efforts of whichever department we select. It's nice to know that you're both here and you're both willing to do it."

Both Pleasant Grove and Orem offered their services, but with slightly different propositions. Pleasant Grove agreed to provide dispatch and administrative services, but Lindon would lease its own new vehicles and provide its own employees at a cost of nearly $1.9 million.

"We ... are not dissatisfied with the service from Pleasant Grove, but we have to admit that we don't have a station here in Lindon that is staffed full-time," said Dennis Moss, a retired Provo city fire marshal who lives in Lindon. "We need service here in Lindon. I don't care whose name's on the truck."

Orem's proposal was similar in dispatch and administrative contracts, but it would provide Orem employees and Orem equipment at a cost of $1.2 million.

"One benefit we have, that (also) makes it a challenge, we have residents of Lindon city who are currently in the fire departments of both Orem and Pleasant Grove," said council member Eric Anthony. Many of those residents and employees expressed their concerns with both proposals.