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09.b3 Staff Report 2022 Hiring Approval Staff Report Date of Meeting: January, 18 2022 To: City Council From: Mike Hinz, Fire Chief Re: Firefighter recruiting for 2022 Background: Scandia Fire & Rescue is a POC (paid on call) fire department. We currently have a staff of 23 firefighters (3 of these are on probation until June). We feel that a reasonable staffing level is 30 members. This number has proven to be adequate in the past. Over the last few years, we have had a large turn over. The roster consists of 1 chief, 2 assistant chiefs, 3 captains, 1 engineer and 16 firefighter / EMT’s currently. We try to take new members on in June so that the member has some time to understand the commitment that we require before their first training class starts in the fall. In fall they will begin either firefighter 1 & 2, or they will start Emergency Medical Technician. Issue: Should we recruit and add up to 5 new members to the fire department roster? We are currently under staffed. Proposal Details: Start the process to hire up to 5 new members Estimated Time line; • January 18th - City council approve recruiting of up to 5 new members • February 16th – March 27th = Take applications (active recruiting) • March 28th – April 1st = Review applications (Fire Officers) • April 11th – 15th = Interviews (Mike H, Bill H, Ian S & Ken C.) • April 23rd = Physicals at fire station (Officers & all members) • April 25th – 29th = Second interview if needed (Mike H, Bill H, Ian S, Ken C.) • May 4th = Council approval (pending medical exam) • May 9th – 20th = Medical exam (Osceola Hospital) • May 22nd = Family Meeting (All) • June 1st = Start date (Fire Officers) Fiscal Impact: Staff time $200. *If hired costs; There is now an opportunity to be reimbursed for most of the costs below by the state sponsored MNFIRE program Can be discussed further at the May approval meeting. Osceola Fit test $750, Wages for the first year would be less than $5,000 for all 5 members, Training cost for the first 2 years $8,000 per year for 5 recruits (firefighter & EMT training) After 2 years turnout gear $2,000 per member Options: (1) Approve recruiting up to 5 new members per the estimated time line provided (2) Approve a different number of new members (3) Do not approve hiring any new members Recommendation: Option (1). Recommend we proceed with the hiring process; final decision will be made May 4th. Waiting could cause further under staffing problems.