A lot still needs to happen before a combined Wauwatosa and West Allis fire department fully takes shape, as authorized by both cities on Feb. 24, but one of the details both clear and final is the new department's name: Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue.
That name has upset at least one Milwaukee alderman.
"The City of Milwaukee is not part of this department. Milwaukee is not funding it, governing it, staffing it, or overseeing it. Yet its name is being used as the brand," Peter Burgelis said in a Feb. 26 news release. "That is stolen credibility. ... If this merger stands on its own merits, it should stand on its own name."
Tosa Forward News sought reaction from Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride, who called Burgelis' criticism "much ado about nothing."