Central Fire to raise wages for staff across the board
The Central Fire and EMS District Board decided they would raise wages for EMS, firefighter, fire inspector and duty crew personnel at thier monthly meeting on April 21. The increase will be a $1/hour hike starting on May 1.
The decision came after Fire Chief Joe Mueller had heard that day crew workers were looking for an increase in pay.
The board entered a debate and asked Mueller what giving a day crew raise might mean for the rest of the workers. Mueller and the board agreed that if one section of staff received an increase, others might soon ask for a similar raise.
“I’ve watched job postings [from similar-size departments] and the starting pay for those job postings pay $17-$19/hour,” Mueller said. “I’ve talked to Owen and they pay $17/hour [starting out].”
Chairman Larry Oehmichen said to keep up with rising rates across the nation and to help encourage people to volunteer, he supported a raise in wages across the board.
EMS Battalion Chief Travis Nixdorf said if one group is getting an increase, then it should be across the board to keep all staff members happy.
“I don’t think $16 is out of line with Taylor County but I don’t know how we can raise the duty crew’s wages and no one else’s,” Nixdorf said. “I’m not against any raises but I think, for people not to be upset, whatever raise you’d give the duty crew would have to be for the other [staff] as well.”
Mueller estimated the raises would cost the district an additional $6,400 annually on top of what they already spend on wages.
A reported increase in rates paid out by Medicare for ambulance and EMT visits and rides will more than help cover the cost of the increase, Nixdorf confirmed.
After a discussion period, the board decided to raise all wages for Central Fire & EMS staff by a dollar per hour.
Mueller also noted that a fire inspector had lobbied for an increase in wages to compete with their current workplace, stating that taking a vacation day to perform fire inspections shouldn’t result in losing a large amount of salary from their full time jobs.
The board was in agreement that the district can’t afford to lose fire inspectors and a $5/hour increase was approved. Fire inspectors will now make $20/hour starting May 1.
At the end of the meeting, day crew’s wages will increase starting May 1 from $16 to $17/hour. Firefi ghters’ wages will be raised from $15/hour to $16/ hour and EMS staff wages will increase from $20 to $21/hour. Fire inspectors will now make $20/hour as opposed to the original mark of $15/hour.
Other business
The purchasing power limit was increased from $50,000 to $100,000 provided the commission has adequate funds in the equivalent fund to make such purchase in place and no additional cost would be passed onto municipalities.
The limit increase is designed to help avoid being outbid on vehicles and equipment as rising infl ation causes equipment to go for more money at auction.
Oehmichen described a situation where they were forced to lose out on a piece of equipment because they would have been bidding above their purchasing limit and said the new adjustment would rectify that in future instances.
EMS responded to a total of 76 calls from March 17 to April 21 and Fire responded to six calls during that same span according to the monthly chief’s report.
Central Firefighters will be conducting hose testing in the coming weeks.
The District also sold an old ambulance to Bob’s Dairy Supply in Dorchester.
