Reversing a tabled “indefinitely” decision two weeks earlier to authorize hiring of new employees for the West Liberty Fire Department’s Ambulance unit, the West Liberty City Council approved 120 hours per week of employment Tuesday evening, putting some smiles on the faces of WLVFD leaders.
With Mayor Robert Hartman saying “I’d like to have this resolved,” and other council members agreeing, the council voted 4-0 to approve hiring Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) or Paramedics to fill the Monday through Friday hours, adding 80 hours to the already approved 40 hours the council approved at a meeting years ago.
Council member Cara McFerren made the motion following nearly an hour of discussion and questions, before the motion was seconded by councilman Jose Zacarius and unanimously approved with a vote that included Dave Smith and Diane Beranek. Councilman Robbie Rock was not present for the meeting.
Fire Department leaders at the meeting, including Chief Kirt Sickles, Assistant Chief Tom ‘Dog’ Christensen, fireman Eric Christensen and Sandy Heick, a medical officer with the ambulance service, were told they could hire qualified full-time or part-time personnel to fill those hours, pointing out they must fill out applications, have background checks and proper qualifications to fill the roles as employees of the city, getting city benefits.
McFerren demanded “some kind of oversight” for the new employees and said the employees would need to go through the proper channels and the city’s human resources department, “just like any other department in the city.”
“I know we need something now,” said McFerren, who opened the discussion for the board. “I hope we can come half way – at least work together. We don’t want this to keep lingering.”
She said the council’s concern was not running out of funds to support the new personnel which will serve the entire West Liberty School District area and beyond. “We certainly wouldn’t want to lay them off in a year if we can’t afford them,” said Lee Geertz, city clerk. McFerren said the council was, “trying to be a little conservative” in addressing the issue and the hours. “We’re trying our best,” she said.
Fire department leaders argued there is plenty of money in funds held by the city as well as the fact ambulance services are invoiced to customers, covering most of the costs of personnel. Sickles also pointed out the council’s concern in saving for a new ambulance wasn’t a top priority for his department, noting the two vehicles presently in the fleet shouldn’t need to be replaced for years to come.
“That doesn’t mean stuff doesn’t break,” the chief said, pointing out the department should have plenty of “reserve money” to support the hiring plan and equipment needs and questioned, “Does the city have 10 years of reserve money (for their needs)?”
The council questioned how many certified fire-fighters were on the force that could help with ambulance calls. Sickles told the council there are approximately “12 or 13 of us” that can take that responsibility, but not all are active and many have limited certification. He said the department has had “some serious discussions with volunteers” to find more ambulance personnel.
Sickles pointed out the department lost four qualified ambulance paramedics in recent months to “better jobs” and the new hires would simply fill those positions. The department was asking for approval of hiring five EMT’s and paramedics, which was approved by a city council committee weeks ago. Tom Christensen said the ambulance department has already answered 450 calls this year “as of today.”
There was some concern by the council that maybe the ambulance service didn’t need as much personnel in the future as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down, but it was pointed out calls continue and help is desperately needed immediately. Sickles said after the meeting he planned to get the new hires in place “as soon as possible.”
“We want to make sure it’s sustainable,” McFerren said, concerned about spending the money. The mayor said the council “has to be good stewards of the city’s money” as they represent the citizens of the community and McFerren added that the city “needs to treat all departments equally.” She also asked for documented details on the hirings.
Before the vote, the mayor asked Sickles and his team at the meeting for input, noting he didn’t want to have a dialog again two weeks from now. “Give us your thoughts,” he asked. “If this passes and you’re not happy with it, (we don’t want to continue down this road).”
The chief said he wanted to get the hiring issue off the board a month ago. “I’m happy to hear this,” said Sickles. “It gives us a good starting point.” The chief called EMS “an essential service” in the community and said “we’re in a scramble” in trying to fill the emergency medical needs of the community at the present time.
Sickles said he appreciated all the support of the city. “Don’t get me wrong, but the city’s not paying for a lot of this,” he said, noting a large portion of it is being paid for by charges to people requiring medical attention or ambulance services. He said the city basically pays about $20,000 a year in supporting the ambulance department.
City manager Dave Haugland, who had questions earlier regarding ambulance transports, said it didn’t make any sense to wait another two weeks before the council could vote on the issue again, noting the sooner the process of advertising for hiring can take place, the better.
Eric Christensen asked if some of the federal stimulus “Rescue America” money given to the city – targeted to receive over $562,000 – could be used toward the department, but city officials said there’s no clear direction from the federal government on how the money can be used, even though the city already had half of it in their hands. City officials promised to look into that possibility.
The city also questioned where the county stands with a new state-wide tax proposal to support ambulance services. It was pointed out both Johnson County and Cedar County have passed the new tax, which will benefit the local ambulance service, but said there has not been a decision made in Muscatine County to raise taxes for the essential services.
COUNCIL ASKS FIRE LEADERS TO 'APOLOGIZE' TO DONORS
The West Liberty City Council is asking the West Liberty Fire Department to apologize to at least two families concerning memorial donations made toward the fire or ambulance departments following accusations of misuse by the city at a Sept. 21 informational meeting held at the Muscatine County Fairgrounds hosted by the local fire department and the Rural Fire District.
Council member Dave Smith said he wished leaders of the fire department had stayed longer at the meeting of the city council Tuesday, Oct. 5, to learn about the incident he called “appalling.”
“They literally lied to them that night. That’s very disheartening to me,” Smith said. “That hurt me, (a former member of the fire department) that they would use that.”
He recommended the department be advised to reach out to both of those families and “apologize,” pointing out, “that money was never misappropriated in any way, shape or form.”
He praised city clerk Lee Geertz for handling the situation in both cases.
“Information that was provided that memorial donations had went to the general fund of the city. However, that is correct,” she said. “What folks don’t understand is that the city’s general fund is made up of several funds within the general fund. Money goes into funds within the general fund.” She said most of those funds are specified under public safety – police and fire. Ambulance donations are separate yet under the fire department as a special service.
She pointed out that special funds, again part of the general fund, including the Fire Reserve, Ambulance Reserve, Fire
Trust and Agency, Library Trust and Parks & Recreation
Trust. “Those are reserving cash dollars to be used for future purposes,” she said.
“Memorial dollars and donations that come in from private individuals or that come in for loss of a loved one or just want to donate, those are been directed to go to the fire trust and agency for that future purpose. or possibly a bequest indicates how they want those funds to be used,” Geertz said.
“For ambulance donations, we communicate, if you’re going to make a donation on behalf of EMS, ambulance or rescue (it’s had different names over the years), we are specific to say, do you want it to be specifically for ambulance.”
This week, Geertz provided a list of those five accounts and their balance as of Sept. 30. They include: Fire Trust and Agency - $375,768.59 (Donations and memorial contributions for the West Liberty Fire Department); Ambulance Reserve - $650,773.50 (Equipment reserve); Fire Reserve - $159,130.80 (Equipment reserve); Parks and Recreation Trust - $87,621.37 (Donations and equipment reserve); and (West Liberty Public) Library Trust $377,814.51 (Donations and memorial contributions).
Geertz went on to reempasize that the funds are designated for a purpose and are "restricted funds" within the city's general fund. " The funds can only be used for the purpose of the department designated by resolution."
At the regular meeting, she said the process is the same with any donation made to a fund held by the city, noting communication is provided for the fire department with every transaction. “We want both of us to have an accounting of those funds,” the clerk said.
“What I would extend out to family members, from what I’ve heard, is if there’s commingling of those dollars with other funds, reach out to (city manager Dave) Haugland or myself and we’d be happy to sit down with them and allow them to see the transaction,” Geertz said. “It is placed in the fund that is designated to the fire department. Because of that designation, those dollars cannot be used anywhere else because it’s restricted to the fire department.”
Geertz said her review of the issue was a “quick education about that process. We are always here and available to provide that information. We can ensure those payments are in trust. Thank you for allowing me a little bit of time for clarification of that issue.” Geertz had put 5-6 hours into repairing the problem.
In other business, the city authorized a payment of $83,061.72 to S.G. Construction Company of Burlington for work on the city hall/police department building at 409 Calhoun Street, approved by city engineers from Veenstra & Kimm of Rock Island. The company was also given $64,07.73 for work completed through Sept. 30.
The city also approved a $400 store credit at Jeff’s Market in West Liberty to replace groceries lost in two freezers at the home of Romualda Cruz following an electrical accident by the city, spoiling an estimated $800 in food.
The city council also unanimously approved a sixth change order for the project in the amount of $17,521.36 for an additional stoop and paving at the site as well as removing and replacing concrete paving in a 35-foot by 25-foot area.
A buildings and grounds committee meeting was set for the morning of Monday, Oct. 11, to review police department and city hall updates and discuss phase II for city hall.
ABOVE STORY ALSO WRITTEN BY TIM EVANS, Index Editor