The staff will be paid. There will be no volunteers. And the transition in July is to be seamless.
Lakeland is expected to have its own fire department come July and the only noticeable difference should be “Lakeland Fire Department” on the equipment instead of Shelby County Engine 65.
Dennis Wolf, fire management consultant for MTAS (Municipal Technical Advisory Service), is to be the fire chief for the new department, starting work in January, and spoke at a Town Hall meeting last night (9.18.18) at City Hall.
Chief Wolf gave an overview of the new department for the City and noted there have been rumors about the staffing and the ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating.
He expects to have a staff of 12, utilizing four per shift. This will be different than Shelby County services, he said, with a staff of three during each shift. “Our minimum staff will be four. The County minimum is three. We will send four people on an engine all the time,” said Chief Wolf.
He said this increases safety and allows immediate attack from the inside of a fire, with two outside and two inside.
Department administration will include a fire chief, an assistant fire chief, three fire lieutenants, six firefighters and four to six part-time firefighters. The goal would be to hire current firefighters from other areas and utilize them on a part-time basis. They would work no more than 29 hours. They would not receive benefits from Lakeland, but would have benefits at their full-time jobs.
At one time, said Chief Wolf, volunteers were considered, but they would require 96 hours of training plus additional skill training.
Of the ISO or “public protection rating,” he said the class 3 rating will remain until ISO evaluates Lakeland in six months to a year. Most fire departments in the Memphis area have 3, 2 or 1.
“I am confident we will do everything to get a 3,” said Chief Wolf. “We will do everything we can to get the most points possible,” he said of the rating.
To the question raised about keeping the current rating of 3 with the Shelby County Fire Department, Chief Wolf said, “I don’t have a hard fast answer to your question. I can tell you we will get as many points as possible,” citing training, drill and pre-fire training points.
If the City loses the rating of 3 and goes to a 4, the increase in insurance could be 2-4% said Chief Wolf. But the Mayor acknowledged the reverse could happen and the rating could go to 2.
Ambulance service will continue at the Lakeland station with a separate cost for this service on MLGW bills. Hazardous materials level A team will continue to be provided by Shelby County. An Automatic Aid agreement is in place with Shelby County and should be established with Arlington in October.
A timeline to establish the station starts Jan. 1 as Chief Wolf begins his tenure. A month later an assistant fire chief will be hired with three lieutenants hired March 1. Between April 1 and June 30, six firefighters will be hired with training and preparation. July 1, 2019 service is to begin.
Mayor Wyatt Bunker said competitive salary and benefits will be paid to the full-time workers. Initially it is hoped to hire with five to 10 years of experience. Pay-wise, the hires could be a lateral transfer. Already the Chief is being contacted by people who want to work at the Lakeland Fire Department.
The Mayor said there are a lot of unknowns now. He added the Board is committed to supporting this service to make sure Lakeland citizens are protected.
Commissioner Matt Wright asked would there have been a difference in a recent residential fire when a large home was destroyed by fire had Lakeland had its own fire department. Chief Wolf said no. “The travel time would be no different. It would be the same resources. The only difference would be Lakeland Fire Department on the door.”
The cost and savings on operating a local fire department were questioned, asking how the City believes it will save $800,000 a year. City Manager Jim Atkinson said the fire service fees on the MLGW bill generate $2.4 million and the estimated cost to operate the department within Lakeland is $1.6 million, thus the $800,000.
Because Shelby County could not reduce the fee to Lakeland, the City went to the State Legislature for a change to allow Lakeland to collect the fire fee.
Mayor Bunker explained reserve funds will be used to subsidize the department initially until fire fees can replenish the reserve fund. “The objective here is to eliminate the fire fee without increasing property tax.” He suggested a phased plan for perhaps five years.
Chief Wolf said strategic planning will start after the first of the year when he is hired. He said Lakeland has 18-square-miles with one station and needs a second station. The planning will include how to fund a second station, when and how to deal with the “to be built” Lake District at I-40 and Canada Road.
Google album of slides from Chief Wolf’s presentation: https://photos.app.goo.gl/dAH7c6Zt4EPjemPS9
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents.
Link to Livestream: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8377758
