Ann Arbor officials hope to use $642K federal grant to hire 4 new firefighters
Ann Arbor officials are hoping to hire a handful of new firefighters thanks to a recently announced federal grant and an expected increase in state funding.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded a $642,294 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to the city to fund three recalled firefighters for two years.
The city applied for the SAFER grant in February. In May, with staffing levels a concern, and FEMA unable to say when a decision would be made regarding the grant, City Administrator Steve Powers instructed Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard to go ahead and recall the three laid-off firefighters.
Steve Powers
He pointed out new hires are eligible in the SAFER program and are less expensive than recalled firefighters.
Hubbard has said he hopes to increase the fire department's staffing levels to 88 full-time employees to improve the city's response to fires.
"The SAFER award moves the city closer to the target in a sustainable way," Powers said. "The three recalled firefighters bring the department's staffing to 82. Federal approval of the city's amendment request would increase staffing to 86."
Contributing to the city's ability to add firefighters, Powers said, is an additional $70,000 in state fire protection funding. The increased state funding takes effect Oct. 1.
Powers said federal consideration of the amendment request will take time. He anticipates an answer will be received before October and possibly within 60 days.
In addition to concerns about staffing, the fire department has been plagued with having fire trucks broken down and out of service. Hubbard confirmed on Wednesday that the city's only ladder truck and its tower truck have been out of commission for a while, leaving the city without a fire truck of its own that can combat fires in tall buildings.
Hubbard said he made arrangements to have Pittsfield Township automatically send an aerial truck on all of the city's structure fire calls until the city gets at least one of its aerials back. He said the Ladder 5 truck, with a 75-foot ladder, was due back today after repairs and the tower, which has a 95-foot ladder, should be back by the end of June.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
talker
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 10:03 p.m.
It's possible to have more than one overlapping fires requiring multiple truck and other equipment and much more than 4 firefighters. I've read about our glorious agreements with surrounding communities, but I've yet to read comments about how that means some Ann Arbor equipment could be fighting with Pittsfield Township firefighters and neither of those firefighters would be available. The U. of M. should care. What if a fire broke out in Michigan Stadium? Would lack of professional firefighters lead to more injuries and damage? In such a crowded place, might there be panic. While any such fire would likely be limited to a very small area, there can be a lot of people in a very small area. How would parents react when they find out about a lack of firefighting equipment to protect a student living on the 6th floor? If you're wondering how really tall buildings in other cities handle the matter, one way is to have firefighting equipment installed on the higher floors of buildings and firefighters don't have to hoist equipment with them as they climb the stairs. Ann Arbor buildings aren't nearly as tall, but requiring equipment in buildings would enable firefighters to put out fires and rescue residents sooner.
Peregrine
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.
@Ranzini: You don't tell the whole story. The 2-station deployment plan would greatly improve the Fire Dept.'s ability to meet NFPA standards over the current 5-station deployment, as we'd get four firefighters on the scene more quickly. Given the funding constraints we had been facing the 2-station plan was better, and you've never once acknowledged that in these forums (if you have, please provide a link). Now with the additional funding and the additional personnel it enables, I'm curious to see whether there is another deployment plan that would be better still than the 2-station plan. It looks like we may end up with seven additional firefighters, which is a little more than two per shift.
John
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 3:40 p.m.
Peregrine I disagree, if there is a fire in station 4 area (platt and huron parkway), engine four would be there in mins, if a rescue needed to be done they could make an attempt. Station two truck would arrive at the same time it would if the city was at the 2-station plan. You would get one truck faster that could make a rescue or start knocking the fire down(out side) before the second truck showed up!! The faster water gets on the fire the quick it would be knocked down. Less damage to our home!!! And more important if someone is trapped they might get rescued muck quicker!!! Under the 2-station plan the time for the first two trucks could be much longer and that doesn't take in account that two trucks will be at station 2 when the fire comes in!
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 10:52 a.m.
@Joe.Blow: We need the 88 fire fighters the chief suggests as his "magic number" to be able to meet the NFPA Standards for response times. This would mean that 90% of all fires in the city are responded to within the time required so that the typical fire is contained and doesn't destroy the whole structure. Otherwise all the fire department is doing is "surround and drown". Thanks Ryan, for confirming what I revealed in my "Comment Cents" column earlier this week, that the city was without fire response apparatus that could reach above 3 floors for an extended period of time, and that an administrative snafu may put the SAFER grant at risk. You can read my column at: http://annarbor.com/news/opinion/ann-arbor-city-council-and-school-board-both-need-lessons-in-open-government/ I appreciate the city's managers getting Ladder 5 fixed and back in service and apparently ahead of the original schedule. I agree with @Ron, former Ann Arbor Fire Chief @Dominic Lanza and @Karen Sidney that a new Tower should be purchased ASAP and I am glad that they are actively working on it and the funds are available. I appreciate the efforts of the city mananagement to get the funds to hire the fire fighters we need to get back to 88 people. Now if we can just get city management to officially put a spike in the heart of the plan to close 2 of the 5 fire stations to implement a flawed plan that doesn't meet NFPA Standards and get the city to rescind the illegal gag order issued by the current fire chief directing members of the department not to discuss their concerns about fire safety with the public, I would be completely satisfied with the situation.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 11:34 a.m.
@Craig Lounsbury: They were counting on the SAFER grant to pay for adding the staff to get to 88 fire fighters. But, the application they used to apply for the grant committed to using the funds only to rehire laid off fire fighters. They didn't ensure that they had any laid off fire fighters. In May they rehired all three of the ones they had left to rehire so now that they have the money they have no one to hire with that money. Could they have hired four new people earlier in the year (six more people were budgeted but never hired) with the understanding that they would put them through training and then lay them off until either a grant came through, or a resignation or retirement occurred? Then they would have been immediately able to recall the four laid off fire fighters and use the SAFER grant money to pay for it. Just a thought to ponder. Now, they are reapplying to get new terms for the SAFER grant money and there is no guaranteed this new application will be granted. It is an administrative snafu!
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
In other words they recalled the 3 firefighters without using Federal money. And you somehow see that as bad? Better to wait till the Feds pay up? Is that your stance? "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded a $642,294 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to the city to fund three recalled firefighters for two years." "In May, with staffing levels a concern, and FEMA unable to say when a decision would be made regarding the grant, City Administrator Steve Powers instructed Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard to go ahead and recall the three laid-off firefighters."
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.
@Craig Lounsbury: the fact that they don't have enough fire fighters to recall to work to use the grants funds and have to apply for permission to change the grant application. What they applied for they didn't have the ability to perform.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
"Thanks Ryan, for confirming what I revealed....that an administrative snafu may put the SAFER grant at risk." What snafu was that? The one where they decided to recall 3 firemen NOW rather than wait indefinitely for a response from FEMA on the grant proposal? Or is there a different snafu?
joe.blow
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : midnight
So, one has to ask the question, do we really need 4 more firefighters? I'd like to see the data on rate of fire response times and the number of firefighters, furthermore, I'd like to see the monetary impact that each additional firefighter will provide in fire damage prevention by proposed increased time to response. Next, I'd like to see a comprehensive plan showing how AA will pay for these fighters once the grant runs out and the actual cost with all benefits and expenses included that each fighter will cost the city. Suddenly, free isn't so free.
talker
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 9:48 p.m.
What is a life worth? Also, where is the U. of M. in all this? Where are the owners of the high rise, private dorms? Some parents who will pay the rent in such buildings may think twice and prefer rooms in a two story "house." I don't think members of city council with interests in rental housing are clever enough to stage this (though it could benefit them in getting tenants) and avoiding unsafe high rise rentals could concern out of state tuition payers that Ann Arbor is riskier than other alternatives, but in any case people can suffer serious burns, lung damage, and even die if we don't have adequate fire fighting equipment and personnel. Thus, this is about safety and about business.
Joe Hood
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 1:13 a.m.
Search a2politico.com for information on this subject. There has been Enron type accounting measures with respect to response time for the fire department. The former city manager stated that response time was still the same. Well, he was correct, the first truck arrives as it did previously but with one exception, only three guys on the truck. You need four guys in order to enter a burning building. The question then is, what is the response time for four guys to a fire. There is a trove of information, Karen Sidney has a bunch of posts there with the same level of information she gave a few comments up.
Karen Sidney
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 11:24 p.m.
The city has a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a 100 foot ariel platform and 2 light rescue units for the fire department. The purchase will be made from the fleet fund. To see the RFP go to the purchasing department on the city website and click on RFP's. The fire department pays fees to the fleet fund for fuel, repairs and maintenance, depreciation (fleet replacement) and management. According to the trial balance posted on the data catalog, the fire department has paid $246,162 for fleet replacement for just the first 11 months of this fiscal year. They have paid $103,797 for repairs and maintenance for the first 11 months.. Several years ago the fire department paid about $750,000 to the fleet fund for replacement. I find it hard to believe that there is not plenty of money in the fleet fund for fire equipment purchases and probably enough to refund some of it to the fire department to hire staff for a couple of years until the economy improves. There are similar overcharges to the solid waste fund for fleet replacement which explains why there was money to purchase a new garbage truck for almost $300,000 but not $25,000 to restore Christmas tree pickup. The trial balance report for May 31, 2012 shows that the fleet fund had about $10 million in cash and investments.
Mike
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 9:59 p.m.
These grants are great; thank you China..............
Dominick Lanza
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 9:45 p.m.
When I left the city as Fire Chief 15 months ago there was more than enough in the "bucket" to buy a new tower truck. Each months fleet service contribution from fires budget contains money to go into the replacement bucket. The city can go out and buy a tower truck already built ( and delivered in under 90 days) that would fit its needs as all the manufacturers keep "stock" units in inventory. Theres no excuse to keep wasting money on the existing tower truck. Also for purposes of budgeting and layoffs I was instructed ti use the figure of $100,000 dollars for each firefighter including all benefits those were tenured firefighters not new hires who receive less in salary and benefit contribution. But even using the 100k figure the grant would allow hiring 6 firefighters and the funds are guarnteed for two years. This allows for continued improvement in the economy. I am sure Chief Hubbard welcomes any number of new employees so he wont speak against hiring 4 instead of 6. The firefighters that are returning from layoff will be funded by positions which are vacant due to retirements. I still care about the city and I know the position the the chief is in if he argues for more he may get less or none. Let the facts speak check the numbers.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 10:54 a.m.
If the money is there to buy a new truck what is the process to do so? Evidently the sitting Fire chief can't spend equipment money as he sees fit? The city manager can't stamp the purchase? Does the equipment need to be approved by city council? If so did you bring a proposal to council that was rejected?
Jim Osborn
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 9:40 p.m.
I support more funding for our fire department. I do. I feel glad for the recalled firefighters, who never should have been laid off. How wrong. THis is great news, sort of... But this truly is a local issue. Why should the federal government borrow from China to pay for it so our local government can then spend money on "art" (the Hurinal) or the BIG DIG and other much less important expenditures? It calls itself "Treetown", yet many of the trees have not been replaced in the lawn extension (parking strip) in front of homes. I was told that it would be 2014 or later for many. Treetown? Art? Federal money? Where is the leadership? I'll be waiting with anticipation until I read a posting by a local banker tomorrow morning. Fund police, fire, and roads first, not last, and don't go begging from the feds to do so.
justwondering
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 6:49 p.m.
Someone needs to investigate if these funds can be moved to the art fund where they could be better utilized, instead of for fire protection. Lest someone snort their sandwich out their nose reading this, I'm kidding.
Alan Goldsmith
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 6:32 p.m.
"Can we really do this in the Workers Paradise? Sounds anti-Union to me. "He pointed out new hires are eligible in the SAFER program and are less expensive than recalled firefighters."" If you have listened to the Mayor on the topic of firefighters and police staff, his contempt of unions and workers who are on the front line is pretty transparent. From his love of Financial Mangers and all the statements that he spewed during the negotiation process, it's apparent his views are mostly in line with Rick Snyder and Michigan tea party members. If anyone thinks this man is upholding the values of the Democratic Party and American Unions, you're sadly mistaken.
xmo
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 5:43 p.m.
Can we really do this in the Workers Paradise? Sounds anti-Union to me. "He pointed out new hires are eligible in the SAFER program and are less expensive than recalled firefighters."
Ron
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 5:02 p.m.
What ever happened to the money that the city had to buy a new Tower truck for the department? I could swear that I had read in AA.com that the money was there awhile back and according to this article they are just repairing the old one? When was the last time the city flipped for a NEW piece of equipment for our guys to keep us safe? I should have saved that article because if I remember correctly, the frame on the old tower truck was broke. Why would you try to fix that and put our guys in DANGER of being hurt. I am going to print this article out today and if AA.com could find me the article where it was printed about the tower truck having a broken frame, I would LOVE to have that one also. Mr Mayor I understand the city is strapped for cash. ALOT of cities are strapped for cash but you don't see the rest of them spending money on ART to make their city look nice when there are other concerns to be taken care of. I have done some web surfing for new Tower trucks myself just to see what kind of cost is involved in getting one. Most Manufacturers have what they call STOCK trucks that are available for immediate delivery. Most of which are rear mount like the one the city already has. I bet if you gave me a few pairs of old boots and if I could get a few volunteers from around the city, we could fill the boots with enough money to buy the Tower truck and prove to the mayor that he may run the city but the residents still care about being able to feel that they are safe knowing the Fire Department has the ability to respond with the properly working equipment. I will give up as much time as it takes to raise the money even if it is raining out. Anybody out there feel like helping me get this going? Is it legal for us to do something like this to help our guys out like this?
Paul Knickelbein
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.
"Hubbard said the "plan" is just to buy a new one... http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-officials-making-plans-to-replace-fire-departments-out-of-service-tower-truck/
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
Is the "bucket" to pay for firefighters the same "bucket" to fix the trucks? If truck repair has a separate "bucket" what is the status of that 'bucket"?
Bill
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 1:53 a.m.
I'm sure there is a Fire Department art bucket. We can't forget the most important bucket.
Alan Goldsmith
Thu, Jun 14, 2012 : 4:45 p.m.
"In addition to concerns about staffing, the fire department has been plagued with having fire trucks broken down and out of service. Hubbard confirmed on Wednesday that the city's only ladder truck and it's tower truck have been out of commission for a while, leaving the city without a fire truck of its own that can combat fires in tall buildings." Brilliant management of the City's resources once again. But if you want strobe lights at crosswalks, spare no expense.