June 16, 2004 |
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Emergency, fire services get a mixed bag at budget hearingsBy JOHN THOMPSON Last weeks budget hearings by the Fayette County Commissioners on their $46 million general fund budget saw some winners and losers. One of the departments that got some of its requests, but not all, was the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Chief Jack Krakeel asked the board to fund an emergency program assistant. He explained that he had secured a federal grant to pay $70,000 for 18 months of the program, because the assistant would also be in charge of the Citizens Emergency Response Team. The grant helps pay for the cost of the CERT program, and Krakeel thought this would be a good way to add a necessary employee to the department. There hasnt been new staff added in 20 years, he said. But Commissioner Linda Wells, who always bring an extra-sharp pencil to the budget hearings, didnt think the position was necessary. Its just an assistant for (Capt.) Pete Nelms, she said. The commissioners questioned whether Krakeel couldnt just add the new program into his already existing ones. I cant take on another new program without help. The responsibilities in the departments have increased dramatically in the last 10 years, he said. Commission chairman Greg Dunn also said he didnt favor just accepting the program for 18 months. It would be a permanent position that we would have to fund, he said. While the commissioners gave the go-ahead for hiring three firefighters and emergency management technicians, the commission did not approve promoting three captains to shift commanders. This is just creating a hierarchy of staff, Wells said. Krakeel said his department handled 5,700 calls a year and mans nine fire stations and 37 staffers, and shift commanders would help coordinate resources throughout the county. But the board said they were in line with the recently completed personnel study that assisted bumping up salaries in the last year to help Fayette remain competitive with other government agencies. |
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