THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT WAS TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVED SERVICES OR COST SAVINGS IN THE NEW COMMUNITY BY THE INTEGRATION OR CONSOLIDATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES INCLUDE SUCH FACTORS AS ORGANIZATION, OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, COSTS, TASK SCHEDULE, AND AN EVALUATION PLAN. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES BE DELIVERED BY A COMBINATION OF EXISTING PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES. THIS COMBINATION CONSISTS OF (1) THE RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF FOR THAT COUNTY'S PORTION OF THE NEW COMMUNITY; (2) THE LEXINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF FOR ITS PORTION; AND (3) THE LEXINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT FOR FIRE AND MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE NEW COMMUNITY. THIS ARRANGEMENT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PROVIDES RESPONSE TIMES AND RESPONSE QUALITY GENERALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL STANDARDS. HARBISON RESIDENTS WOULD RECEIVE A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICES THAT WOULD BE PAID FOR FROM A BROAD TAX BASE ENCOMPASSING THE TWO COUNTIES. RESIDENTS OF THE TWO COUNTIES WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE GREATER CONTROL AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING PUBLIC SERVICES IN THIS AREA AND THEY WOULD AVOID THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH A SEPARATE POLITICAL ENTITY. SUCH AN APPROACH REQUIRES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LONG-TERM CONTRACT BETWEEN LEXINGTON COUNTY AND EITHER RICHMOND COUNTY OR A FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT COVERING THE APPROXIMATE BOUNDARIES OF THE RICHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER SIX. CHARTS, MAPS, GRAPHS, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. A REPORT ON THE BACKGROUND OF PUBLIC SAFETY CONSOLIDATION IS APPENDED ALONG WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN FOR HAVING COMMUNITY-BASED POLICE, FIRE, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. IN ADDITION, CRITERIA FOR FIRE-STATION CONSTRUCTION AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE APPENDED. (KCP)