Published: May 09, 2008 11:40 am            

Task forces gives its fire report to city

The report is in, and now it is up to the Stillwater City Council to take action on recommendations made by the task force committee formed to investigate staffing issues with the city’s fire and ambulance service.

The task force presented its final report to the city council Thursday. While the report concerned staffing of Stillwater Fire Department, the ambulance aspect of SFD’s work was the focus of the committee’s report.

The task force concluded there was no justification to staff an ambulance with fire fighters who earn an average of $64,000 per year for taking residents to Stillwater Medical Center when the job can be done with employees who earn $20,000 to $35,000 per year.

Three options were presented to the council. The first was to contract the service to EMSA or a similar private provider to handle all ambulance services, even if the city would have to subsidize the service.

The second option was to have Stillwater Medical Center take over the service, and the final option was that the city form an ambulance service division.

The task force recommended the ambulance division have a driver with EMT-basic and emergency driving training and a attendant licensed as an EMT-paramedic. That option was touted to maintain the current level of service while freeing up fire fighters.

The task force recommended SFD divest itself of non-emergency transport so city personnel can focus on emergency needs.

The task force to conclude that SFD is adequately staffed if the city privatizes the ambulance service or separates the service from the fire department.

The fire fighters’ political action committee recommended to the task force that the city hire 33 new fire fighters, as outlined by former Chief Larry Mullikin’s staffing report from 2005. It would cost $3 million in new revenue, however, and the task force found both a sales tax increase and utility increase would not be feasible.

A one-half cent sales tax increase would generate approximately $3 million each year and also take city sales tax to 9.25 percent — one of the highest in the state. A three-tenths sales tax increase would be necessary to fund a separate 28-person ambulance division.

If funded by utility customers, approximately $215 would need to be added to each bill annually to generate $3 million each year.

The task force found none of the funding options presented during its meetings to be viable options for the city. The city does not qualify for a SAFER grant.

A 522 emergency district formed by the county or by school district boundaries would not guarantee the city funding for services, and the same district formed by the city would only generate $700,000 each year.

The committee also discussed the OG&E franchise tax as an option, but it also comes up short with a projected annual total of only $160,000.

Oklahoma State University participation was also part of the task force report. The task force found that, based on recent and planned increase in the value of capital investments on campus, the city and university need to study together how to protect the university.

The task force indicated the study should help clarify whether the university is willing to budget supplements for specific fire protection or take on the responsibilities itself. The study could also work to minimize unnecessary calls.

The task force also proposed exploring the possibility of getting state assistance to protect university assets and the possibility of a student fee.

The task force recommended the city form written call-back procedures, based on history of manpower needs on actual calls, to help minimize overtime.

The report included comparison with similar communities in the state and nation. It report will be posted on the city’s webpage at .

The council accepted the report with a 5-0 vote.

Melissa DeLacerda served as chairman of the committee, with Rex Horning as vice chairman. Other members were Bob White, Joe Merrifield, Ray Scarborough, Barry Eller and Betty Townsend.

        

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