from staff
The City Council Finance Committee passed a package of appropriations bills for the Fire Department Monday, getting the department closer to completion on several projects.
The bills, which still need full Council approval, appropriate funds to purchase supplies and finish some new fire stations.
“We’re just moving some extra funds,” said Larry Peterson, chief of administration for the fire department.
The fire stations nearing completion are replacements for old volunteer stations that the City has leased since the volunteers began to phase out. The new stations are typically just a few blocks from the old ones, according to Peterson.
“The volunteer system has pretty much gone away,” said Peterson. “We’re a big city now. People pay good tax dollars and they expect professional fire service.”
City-paid firefighters are already staffing the volunteer stations, which began to decline nearly a decade ago according to Peterson.
“This gives the City 100 percent control and stops that recurring (rent) cost,” he said. “It reverts (the old stations) back to the volunteers.”
Some of the volunteer stations plan to donate the buildings to other causes. Peterson said one station will be given to a local Boy Scouts troup, another to a park.
He said City Council has to approve any changes in use of the funds, even if they’re moving the money from one station to another. The process can be a bit bureaucratic, but keeps the department accountable, said Peterson.
The committee voted quickly, skipping through the agenda and passing one bill right after another.
“I feel like I’m at a bingo game here,” said Finance Chair Kevin Hyde as another ordinance was called out.