Keller City Council gave Matrix Consulting Group approval on May 4 to study the feasibility of consolidating the fire departments for Keller and Westlake.

Matrix Consulting Group will provide a report to both cities that analyzes each department's operations, staffing, station locations and more. The report will also present options and financial considerations for the organization moving forward and potentially making the merger permanent.

Staff from both Keller and Westlake researched a number of potential consultants, and both sets of staff recommended Matrix Consulting Group. The project will be managed by Robert Finn, who was previously the chief of the Southlake Department of Public Safety.

The $32,500 cost of the report will be split evenly between Keller and Westlake.

Keller City Council initially approved a temporary, 16-month consolidation March 17, and the process of merging Keller Fire-Rescue and Westlake Fire/EMS began April 1. According to previous Community Impact Newspaper reporting, the study will conclude in 2022 before the 16-month period ends.