KEARNEY, Neb. — A bill that would require cities with a population of more than 41,000 residents to have a paid fire chief made it to the floor of the Nebraska legislature.
The Kearney Hub reported the Urban Affair committee voted 6-0 to send the bill to the floor. Galen Hadley, speaker of the legislature, introduced the bill.
The bill would change a current law that says when a city has over 37,500 it must have a paid fire chief.
When Hadley initially introduced the bill, the population requirement would have been 45,000 residents to require a paid fire chief, but in a compromise with the Urban Affairs committee the requirement was lowered to 41,000 residents.
“I’m confident it will pass,” Hadley said of the bill.
Kearney Fire Administrator Jason Whalen and Kearney Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim Tacha testified in favor of the bill.
The Kearney Volunteer Fire Department has operated successfully under a fire chief and fire administrator combination since 1991.
“Everything this bill is trying to accomplish, we do already, minus the paid fire chief,” Whalen said.
President of the Nebraska Professional Fire Fighters Association Darren Garrean testified against the bill.
Garrean said an administrative layout where paid staff respond to a volunteer chief has created issues in the past, specifically in Columbus.
“The need to have a volunteer fire chief seems semantics. To me, it seems counterintuitive and doesn’t make sense administratively. I just wonder if there’s a better way to do some things,” said Garrean. “We want to make sure we’re providing the best working environment and the best service to the communities.”
According to Michael Dwyer, the secretary/treasurer at the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association, 23 cities in the state have a combination of paid and volunteer fire departments.
Tacha said a paid fire chief for Kearney is not necessary.
“I don’t do it for that. I do it because I like what I do. I like being a volunteer, and I consider it an honor to be the chief and carry on the torch that has been in the department for 133 years,” said Tacha.