LARNED — City leaders of Larned, Larned State Hospital and Larned State Correctional Facility have demonstrated how different entities can join hands to provide better service at less cost by joining together.

Last year a joint task force, including city staff, two elected officials and representatives of LSH and LSCF met to discuss the possibility of the Larned Fire Department providing fire coverage for the campus of the state entities, just two miles west of the city. “They came to us”, explained T.J. Hearns, Larned’s Fire Chief. “This is a good thing for the Larned Fire Department and it is good for the state facility,”

The Larned City Council approved the proposal and the agreement has been in operation in 2025. Under the agreement, LSH continues to maintain its fire hydrants and maintenance of the fire fighting facilities. The fire station on the grounds can be used by the city to store a pumper truck. The agreement for Larned to be a first responder to the LSH and LSCF proposal was well received and agreed upon by Scott Brunner, the Deputy Secretary of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disabilities (KDADS).

Before the new working agreement between Larned and the state, LSH had a fire truck and the safety and security officers that were trained in firefighting. LSH has five buildings that house patients and residents and many other buildings with staff and storage. All of the patient occupied  buildings have fire suppression systems in place including sprinkler systems, fire walls and smoke control systems.

The new agreement between Larned and the state provided that LSH would give their existing truck and equipment to the Larned Fire Department and that they would give Larned an initial fee of $275,825 for year 2025 and $73,465 in 2026 $75,669 in 2027, $77,939 in 2028 and $80,278 in 2029. Initial investments were made by both parties that included purchasing equipment and making other cost investments to facilitate excellent fire protection. The state contributed $204,500 and the City of Larned contributed $99,000.

LSH also provided two garage bays to store a fire truck and other fire equipment on the campus of LSH. This provides better fire response for LSH while also increasing the operating budget for the Larned Fire Department.

The arrangement has provided benefits for the Larned Fire Department and has improved the fire protection for those at LSH. The “win-win” example here demonstrates the great value when different levels of government, city and state in this situation, explore ways that are mutually beneficial.