Mo. city’s overtime plan prevents closure of rescue company

The new city budget eliminates four firefighters, but maintains services with overtime

May 27, 2010 05:32 AM

By Clinton Thomas
The St. Joseph News-Press

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A new plan from the City Council will make sure a drop in manpower does not cut the city’s ability to provide emergency services for its residents.

The council unanimously approved the use of $75,000 Monday to pay for overtime and other expenses within the Fire Department to prevent the closure of a rescue company.

The new city budget eliminates four firefighters from the department. Fire Chief Mike Dalsing previously told council members the cuts would force him to close a rescue company.

The council’s decision would not replace the firefighters, but would use cell phone settlement revenue to cover overtime pay, allowing all rescue companies to keep a full staff.

“This is going to be a one-year experiment to get us through,” council member Joyce Starr said. “In the meantime, we’re going to apply for grants and hope that maybe a year from now the revenue will be there.”

City Manager Vince Capell has consistently criticized the use of one-time money for ongoing expenses like payroll. He agreed with the council’s decision on the condition that it was a one-year move.

“As long as we use that caveat, then I’m OK with using one-time money,” Mr. Capell said.

Mr. Dalsing said the department will pursue federal SAFER grants that would allow the department to hire new firefighters, with the grant covering all expenses for two years. After the grant expires, the department would have to either add the employees to its payroll or cut positions once again.

“We’ve never applied for this grant before,” Mr. Dalsing said. “Departments that are having layoffs get moved to the top of the pile, so we should have a good shot this year.”

The department expects to apply this summer, but it may not know if it will receive funding for nearly a year.

The council will formally adopt the change in the overtime budget when it adopts the city budget in June. A budget adoption ordinance will come before the council June 1, with a vote taken June 14.