Canton or Cherokee - where's the fire department?

One of the most hotly debated issues of the last several years in Canton has been fire service. Should we invest in new fire stations, equipment and personnel? Should we turn it all over to the county?
I think, as with most things, the answer lies somewhere in the middle.
The Canton Fire Department, as evidenced by their recent lower than expected ISO rating, does an incredible job for our city and the men and women who serve our community as firefighters deserve our whole-hearted gratitude and support. The Cherokee County Fire Department likewise does an incredible job protecting our county. I have no doubt that our citizens would be in good hands whether we consolidated or not.
I am, however, not in favor of consolidation. I believe our best course would be some sort of shared or "hybrid" plan for areas near the edge of the Canton service area such as Laurel Canyon where city and county services overlap. That area in particular would be perfect for some sort of arrangement where Canton and Cherokee would share expenses or facilities to best serve all our citizens.
Much has been said about the apartment fire in South Canton that required the county's assistance. To me that just shows that the system works. No City can build and staff a department large enough to handle every potential problem. That's why there are Mutual Aid agreements, as well as state and federal laws, detailing how and when departments come to each other's aid. We may not even have a Downtown if not for the help of Rome and Gainesville among others during the Cantex fire in 1955.
I have yet to hear a compelling argument or urgent reason for giving up all the benefits Canton enjoys from having its own Fire Department. We currently have a better ISO rating than the county, so consolidation would have a negative effect on citizen's insurance rates and more than likely no tax savings either. I believe we would lose more than we would gain with consolidation.
My main focus, and reason for seeking office, is to serve the citizens of Canton to the best of my ability. With that in mind, I am willing and eager to listen to anyone who wants to persuade me that consolidation is the best choice. I will listen to all viewpoints and carefully study the recommendations of the experts with an open mind. This issue deserves no less. Ultimately, my decisions will be based on input from citizens and what I believe to be in the long-term best interest of Canton.