Council approves amended intergovernmental fire-protection agreement for marina and campground

The council approved an amended intergovernmental agreement to provide fire-protection coverage for marina, boat-dock and campground facilities the conservancy now controls.

Chief Elm said the city has worked under a similar agreement since 2014 for the water-treatment plant and was asked to extend coverage to the conservancy's facilities. He said the Ava Fire Department often responds to the marina with roughly a 30-minute response time and that Murphysboro would provide assistance as mutual aid when available; the agreement contains fail-safe measures if city units are committed elsewhere.

Council moved to approve the agreement after the chief described the limited expected call volume and the mutual-aid nature of responses.

What happens next: staff will finalize and execute the amended intergovernmental agreement with the conservancy.