De Soto Considers One-Year Fire Management Agreement with Rural District
The De Soto Rural Fire Protection District could soon take on management responsibilities for the De Soto Fire Department under a proposed intergovernmental agreement expected to be considered by both governing bodies this month.
City Manager Todd Melkus said the arrangement would not merge the two agencies or combine tax structures. Instead, the agreement would allow the rural fire district to provide operational oversight while both departments remain separate entities, each maintaining its own equipment, personnel and tax rates. The contract would run for one year and could be renewed or terminated by either party.
Under the proposal, the city would pay the rural district $90,000 annually for management services. Melkus noted that the amount is comparable to what the city previously spent on salary and benefits for its former fire chief, who left the position in January. Officials have emphasized that the agreement is not intended to expand government or increase costs, but to streamline leadership and improve operational efficiency.
If approved, the rural district would oversee operational management, training coordination, incident command structure and executive leadership for the city department. Equipment and staffing would remain separate, as they have for decades, and there would be no consolidation of assets beyond the routine cooperation that already occurs during emergency responses.
Rural Fire Chief Tom Fitzgerald said the contract reflects the additional time and responsibilities his department would assume. Melkus also confirmed that the agreement would not affect property tax or sales tax rates for residents.
City leaders describe the proposal as a locally driven solution aimed at reducing duplication, strengthening professional leadership and ensuring continuity of command, all while remaining consistent with Missouri law and established fire service standards.
The two departments already work closely together through mutual aid agreements and share a regional training facility with Hillsboro and Valle Ambulance. Expanding cooperation through a formal management structure, officials say, could improve coordination and safety for both residents and first responders without placing additional burden on taxpayers.
City Councilman Todd Mahn publicly discussed the collaboration earlier this month, pointing to the rising cost of fire apparatus, which can exceed $1 million per truck, and increasing challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified firefighters. Smaller departments nationwide have faced similar pressures.
Mahn said the agreement may represent a practical first step toward long-term sustainability. While immediate savings may not be dramatic, he described the value of experienced leadership and coordinated operations as significant.
The De Soto Fire Department serves approximately 6.4 square miles within city limits and responded to roughly 1,000 calls last year, including mutual aid responses. When fully staffed, it employs seven full-time and five part-time firefighters.
The De Soto Rural Fire Protection District covers approximately 174 square miles in unincorporated areas of the county. It operates six stations, three of which are fully staffed, and employs 17 full-time, nine part-time and 16 volunteer firefighters. The district responded to more than 1,700 calls last year.
Supporters of the proposal argue the agreement is not about expanding government, but about strengthening local services through cooperation and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources. Both governing bodies are expected to vote on the agreement in the coming days.