By Tim Hrenchir
Topeka Capital-Journal
TOPEKA, Kan. — Topeka Fire Chief Greg Bailey left open the possibility Monday that the department may seek authorization to hire additional firefighters to staff a proposed Fire Station 13.
The Topeka City Council plans at its 6 p.m. meeting Tuesday in its chambers at 214 S.E. 8th to consider a proposed $3.67 million project budget to build the station at 5606 S.W. 6th on vacant land donated to the city by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.
When the council voted in 2010 to accept the donation, then-Fire Chief Richard Bradshaw told its members existing resources would be reallocated to staff the station.
In response to a question about whether the department still planned to do that, Bailey wrote in an email Monday, “I do believe we may be able to staff station 13 without hiring additional firefighters, yet this is not the only option being considered.”
The city’s governing body would need to approve the budgeting of money to create any new jobs for firefighters.
No requests to create jobs for entry-level firefighters were part of the proposed budget initiatives interim city manager Pam Simecka provided the city council Friday as part of her weekly report.
In terms of new personnel, that report indicated the department was requesting:
- $99,000 to hire an emergency management services director in the department’s training program.
- $99,000 to hire an assistant fire marshal/public information officer in the department’s fire prevention program.
- $38,000 to hire an inventory manager in the department’s business services program.
- $35,000 to hire a clerical support employee in the department’s business services program.
Simecka plans early next month to present a proposed 2013 city budget to the council, which tentatively plans to finalize that budget during a special meeting Aug. 8.
Copyright 2012 The Topeka Capital-Journal