SENECA — A day after the Seneca Department received some acerbic criticism from County Emergency Services Commission Chairman Jay Hetherington, Fire Chief Shane Phillips says he is "confused."

“That’s a good word for it. I just really don’t know what made this come about,” Phillips said.

Hetherington’s comments came after J.C. Robertson of Mizelle, Hodges and Associates presented his firm's findings of a fire protection survey assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the countywide fire system to the Oconee County Council.

Hetherington said Seneca refused to participate in the study and chastised the county and the city of Seneca for engaging in a “pissing contest.” He went on to say Seneca was “stonewalling” the county.

“Seneca must stop this ugly stonewalling. It can only lead to isolationism and bitterness," Hetherington said Tuesday night.

Neither isolationism or spiting the county, Phillips explained, were Seneca’s intention by participating in the survey. The chief said he contacted ISO officials when approached by the county about the survey.

“We didn’t participate. Before I made any decision, I called ISO,” Phillips said. “I didn’t call a consultant. I didn’t call any third party. I contacted those who are responsible for setting the rates underwriters go by. Their words to me were if you’re a city department that provides a city service outside the city by contract, there’s no need for you to be part of it. You’re about to be graded as it is.”

Seneca Fire Department underwent ISO inspection the following week. Phillips said Seneca Fire felt its priority must be getting prepared for the ISO ratings, which he dubbed one of the most important things done for the taxpayers in 20 years.

“The biggest thing is, if it meant pulling and auditing any of our records, to be honest, we wanted ISO to have the first look at that,” Phillips said. “We didn’t really want a third party consultant to come in.”

“Our whole objective is to secure a rating; period,” he said. “Not to go through a consultant who wants to know about the county. It doesn’t involve us, period.”

Phillips took exception to Hetherington’s statements about Seneca’s perceived isolationism, saying this year Seneca has backed up other areas 85 times and sent additional manpower and equipment to other stations while they were out on fires to help cover their areas at least 10 times.

“If that isn’t working towards a common goal and partnership, I don’t know what is,” Phillips said.

Seneca entered into a contract with the county in 2007 to provide fire protection to rural areas outside the county. Phillips said the city had to cover costs, as it was spreading its resources thin by covering Seneca as well as other areas. The contract only came about after Seneca had threatened to stop fire protection.

The city is contracted to receive $276,544 for coverage costs this year.

Phillips believes he’s seen significantly less tension between the county and the city since that contract was settled.

“To say that we’re moving towards isolationism is so far from the truth it’s ridiculous,” Phillips said.

“This is an outsider looking in,” he added, referring to Hetherington. “On an advisory panel for the county, making accusations about us. To me, I don’t know where they’re coming from.”

Seneca’s contract for fire protection in the rural area expires June 2009. Although Hetherington has at least twice alluded publicly to the county needing to have a plan should Seneca pull out, Phillips said no one with the city has had any communication with the county implying they would not continue serving the rural area.