By a unanimous decision, the Oakdale City Council and the Oakdale Fire Protection District Board have approved a new fire services contract with the City of Modesto.

But the contract still has to be considered by the Modesto City Council, with the panel scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 11.

Approval on the Oakdale side came at a special meeting on Wednesday, May 29, said City Manager Bryan Whitemyer.

“It’s comparable (in cost) to what we have now, it’s a little more expensive for us but we’re getting more services,” he explained.

Oakdale has opted to cut ties with the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District and go with Modesto, provided the Modesto City Council also gives its approval for the new contract. It would take effect with the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

“Previously we had seven firefighters on duty 24 hours, now we will have eight,” Whitemyer said of one of the major changes.

The firefighters will service Oakdale Rural and city proper areas, in addition to Knights Ferry and Valley Home fire stations.

The agreement approved by Oakdale and awaiting action by Modesto would be for three years, from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022.

The extensive contract covers areas including personal protective equipment, inspection of property, capital improvements, title and use of stations and more.

The 2019-2020 fee schedule shows Oakdale Fire Protection District paying $1,972,957.73 for their portion of the contract, broken down in monthly payments of $164,413.14 while the City of Oakdale portion of the contract is $2,630,610.31 or a monthly payment of $219,217.53.

Whitemyer said he planned to attend the June 11 Modesto City Council meeting along with Oakdale Mayor J.R. McCarty and fire board representatives, to be on hand to answer any questions and offer comments about the proposed contract.