BELLEVUE — Peggy Blagg says merging the Bellevue and Dayton fire departments might be a good idea.

        Ms. Blagg, of Dayton, was part of a crowd of about 80 residents of the two Campbell County cities who heard a presentation Monday of a study by the Northern Kentucky Area Development District. The report stated the two cities could save more than $159,000 next year if the fire departments merged.

        The report also stated that a single department could save more than $222,000 in 2003.

        But Ms. Blagg still has questions.

        “I think it sounds good,” she said. “I do want to look at the numbers to see the savings for both cities.”

        Brian Dehner, an development district public administration specialist, said a merger would take three to 12 months to complete. The two cities will hold public hearings.

        Copies of the study will be available today at both city halls.

        According to the study, a merged fire department should:

        • Operate out of the Dayton station on Sixth Avenue. It is newer than Bellevue's 45-year-old building on Van Voast Avenue, and Bellevue could then use its station to expand city offices.

        • Hire four new firefighters, which would increase a merged paid staff from 17 to 21.

        Mr. Dehner said adding four staff members would also make it easier for a merged department to meet national firefighting standards and thus decrease insurance costs.

        Bellevue has seven paid firefighters and 16 volunteers, and Dayton has 10 paid and 12 volunteers.

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