9.a Staff Report-Hiring Probationary Firefighters
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: May 17, 2016
To: City Council
From: Mike Hinz, Fire Chief
Re: Hiring of Probationary Firefighters
Background: Earlier this year the Council approved accepting applications for the Fire
Department. Seven applicants were interviewed by the City Administrator, two Assistant
Chiefs, and myself on April 20. Following the interview five of the applicants took the physical
evaluation on April 30.
Issue: Who should the Council hire for the probationary firefighter positions?
Proposal Details: I would like to have the city council approve hiring David Larson, William Dochniak,
Casey Bowman, Adam Myers, Dallas Soderlind, Jesse Patterson, Joseph Grabrick as paid on call
firefighters with the following stipulations. All approvals are pending the applicant passing the physical
test conducted by Osceola Medical Center. Also that David Larson & William Dochniak pass the Scandia
Fire department fit test, since they were unable to attend the previous test date.
I am requesting all 7 applicants be approved, of these 7 there is a real possibility that 50% may drop out
after starting the full training process. A comfortable roster for the department is 30 members, we are
currently at 21 with 2 members considering retirement this year.
Fiscal Impact: Consistent with Resolution 03-19-13-04, the starting pay would be $10/hour.
After the probationary period and obtaining certain certifications, the firefighters would be
eligible for pay increases.
Options:
1) Subject to passing a drug tests and medical evaluations and the physical test for the
2 applicants who were unable to attend the April 30 testing, approve hiring of all of
the applicants as probationary firefighters effective June 1, 2016.
2) Do not hire additional probationary firefighters at this time.
Recommendation:
Option 1.