Milton Asks for Federal Funds to Hire 9 New Firefighters
The city has used a similar Homeland Security grant to provide funding for three existing firefighters.
Photos
The City of Milton is asking the Department of Homeland Security for enough money to fund nine new firefighters to provide service in the Deerfield/Highway 9 area.
City Council approved making an application for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant. According to a report by Fire Marshal Mat Marietta, this grant project looks specifically to the opening of the new GA 9 fire station.
Mariett'a's report, given to City Council at their Aug. 6 meeting, said the primary goal of the program is to assist local fire departments’ staffing and deployment capabilities to respond to emergencies, assuring that departments have adequate protection from fire and fire related hazards. It includes a minimum of 15 percent of the total funds allocated for hiring of firefighters to expand current programs, as opposed to staving off layoffs and brownouts, which is also a focus of the program in the current economic climate.
This won't be the first time Milton uses a SAFER grant for this purpose. Marietta said it has used SAFER Grant successfully for the past four years, providing substantial funding for three current firefighters. He said they have had good
success with the program. Since the grant began, Milton has managed the transition from federally-funded to city-funded salaries. That would be the goal with this grant also, if it is awarded.
Milton seeks $468,000 in 2013 and $468,720 in 2014 from the SAFER grant. Hiring the nine firefighters would cost the city $27,000 the first year and $5,000 a year later. But starting in 2015, Milton would pick up the full cost of salary and benefits for the new firefighters. That cost is projected to start at $511,389 in 2016 and increase to $575,283 by 2018, the last year of the grant.
The grant period is longer than the federal funding lasts to assure that the positions are new, permanent hires.
With the grant, the city hopes to:
- Reduce response times, meeting a goal of 15 firefighters on scene of a structure fire within eight minutes of alarm time;
- Meet the standard of "two in and two out," which is a
requirement that for every two firefighters placed in an environment that is immediately dangerous to life and health, there are two additional firefighters outside.
Marietta told City Council that without the SAFER grant, the city would have to delay hiring additional personnel for added apparatus until later years.
City Council voted unanimously to approve application for the grant.
Marcy
9:46 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Hmm aren't these all the same people who want to do away with the federal government and taxes?
Pat M
2:17 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
You betcha...they hate that government spending until it's for something they want/need. I think that's pretty consistent with their " I got mine, the h*ll with you" mentality.
No Name
2:23 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Fed money comes with strings.... but many don't mind being puppets..... so all is good.
Bill A
3:55 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
This request surely cannot be coming from a majority Republican/Tea Party friendly city. It figures those that don't want to pay for anything want everything.
Truthseeker
5:31 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Bill you mean the 10 percent of the American population that pays 70% of the taxes? Yes, I could see how a kool-aid drinker would say that they "don't want to pay for anything".
Certainly you were not referring to the Democratic party loyalists in the welfare (no work required - thanks Obama), snap (food stamp), 99 weeks of unemployment, heating assistance, free obama cell phone, earned income tax credit (when none paid), child tax credit (when none paid) people.
JAH
4:13 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
"But starting in 2015, Milton would pick up the full cost of salary and benefits for the new firefighters."
Sounds like Milton will be paying its own way by 2015. I guess trying to make partisan snipes is more attractive to some than actually reading the article.
Bob Pepalis
4:31 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
JAH, you are correct on the city having to pick up the costs. The reason the grant's "life" is for additional years is that is where the strings are attached. The city has to keep those new firefighter positions filled for the entire life of the program, not just the two years during which the feds pick up the tab. It all depends upon approval of the grant funding.
Bill A
3:17 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
Truthseeker, save the Fox News quotes. I'm referring to the attitude, not the reality of paying taxes for services. Coming from NJ, I have no problem paying taxes (more taxes) if it means I will be provided with adequate services/infrastructure.
Truthseeker
8:35 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
Bill obviously you spent too much time in NJ with their tax people into submission attitude. More taxes do not equate to better services. Hence the TSPLOST that would have done nothing to improve traffic. But if you feel better paying more taxes, you can write a check to any government entity you wish.
Catherine S
9:31 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
Bob P, do you know what sort of pension / retirement / layoff obligations might be attached to the new grant for firefighter positions? What, exactly, are the "strings"?
TS
10:14 am on Friday, April 12, 2013
Whether it’s running into burning buildings to save lives, putting out raging fires or responding to a serious accident, Firefighters put their lives on the line to save others. The high degree of danger mixed with life and death decisions makes this our number two most stressful job and they are paid shit! Sadly it is the people who complain about the taxes and the services that come to need them the most... All I can say for your sake is that I hope karma misses you!
Catherine S
1:04 pm on Friday, April 12, 2013
TS, could you please provide facts regarding salary, benefits, and pensions of firefighters in Milton, and facts to back up your comment "it is the people who complain about the taxes and the services that come to need them the most"?