After initially ruffling feathers of Coral Springs officials and city staff by asking the city to provide fire and paramedic services next year at the same price as the current year, the Parkland City Commission voted last week to pay its neighboring city more. It, however, threatened to look elsewhere for the services when the contract ends in September next year.

After Parkland officials voted to pay Coral Springs the additional money, they discussed whether to continue ties with Coral Springs after the five-year contract runs its course by October 2010.

Mayor Michael Udine said he would like his city to continue working with Coral Springs. “I just want to see it is a fair contract. I see that there are other options. For the life of me, I can’t see why Coral Springs is not coming to the table to discuss the contract. If they do want the contract, let them meet with our city staff. It’s not complicated.”

Steven Savia of Sage Group, the consult appointed by Parkland to look at other options said It would be "very viable" for Parkland to contract with Palm Beach County. "Palm Beach actually has the three closest locations outside of Coral Springs. Parkland can also get together with Margate and Coconut Creek for a joint department serviving the three cities. Another option is to have a new contract with Coral Springs; one that is not an extension of the existing contract,” he said.