The city of Ocean Shores honored a number of new firefighters last week, at the same time the city continues its search for a new fire chief and the City Council contemplates how to pay for the permanent retention of staff hired last year under a two-year federal grant program.
In a ceremony before the City Council on Feb. 27, interim Fire Chief Capt. Brian Ritter presided over a ceremony for seven probationary firefighters hired under the SAFER grant.
“In order to become a firefighter at the basic level, you have to go through a fire academy, rigorous physical and psychological testing,” Ritter said. “And once you make that cut, then when you get hired at the Ocean Shores Fire Department you have a year of more rigorous testing and standards that you must fulfill.”
All of those honored on Monday had passed the one-year probationary period and were awarded pins for firefighter/EMT or firefighter/Paramedic.
They were all hired under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, which is administered by FEMA; the amount of the two-year award includes $918,063 for personnel and $499,996 for benefits.
There is no requirement to retain the new employees past the grant period, although the city has plans to seek additional funding before the two years end in 2018.In a related development during the City Council meeting, the council voted 7-0 to authorize moving forward with an Ambulance Utility Rate Study designed to determine if the city is getting adequately compensated for the cost of its ambulance services.
Finance Director Angela Folkers suggested that if the city does not commit to keep the additional firefighters, “we’re going to start seeing some turnover.”
Part of the study would include a look at where the city should be in terms of staffing levels compared to the number of emergency calls the Fire Department handles.
“We also want them to look at our ambulance utility rate. The last study we had done was back in 2012,” Folkers said. Based on that study, the rate was set at $7.48 per month for the ambulance utility. “If the study recommends we keep staffing, we are obviously going to have to figure out how to fund those positions,” she added.
The study is expected to cost about $26,820 for the base data, plus a five-year rate forecast for about $1,500.
Having the vacancy in the Fire Chief’s position since former chief Tom Lique abruptly resigned in December has freed up some funds in the budget to help pay for the cost, Folkers noted. The savings has amounted to about $13,280 a month, she said.
“I think it’s really important as a city that we look at the staffing of Fire and EMS,” Ritter said. “The old fire hall isn’t the old fire hall any more. We are busy,” Ritter added. “We average between six and 10 runs a day.”
Ritter also honored Curt Begley, who recently moved up to the full title of fire inspector/investigator: “It’s a very important job as the city grows. Curt is the one who will review fire plans, code enforcement, investigations and will do a lot of public relations work. Curt has dedicated 25 years of public service to our city, and he’s one of our home-grown members.” Lt. Corey Kuhl also was singled out by Ritter for his added responsibility as the department’s public information officeand for his promotion to lieutenant.
“Corey is all about the Fire Department,” Ritter said.
Here is a list of all those honored by the city: Lt. Corey Kuhl, Lt. Travis Bearden, Fire Inspector Curt Begley. New members that passed initial probation; FF/PM Taylor Beach, FF/PM Cody Sage, FF/PM Darian Rifenberg, FF/PM Cody Plancich, FF/EMT Jack Thomson, FF/EMT Alex Reese, FF/EMT Jacob Royer.
Arnold Samuels photo: Brian Ritter, left, honors Curt Begley for his promotion to inspector/fire chief full-time for the Ocean Shores Fires Department.
Arnold Samuels photo: Brian Ritter, left, honors Curt Begley for his promotion to inspector/fire chief full-time for the Ocean Shores Fires Department.
