PRAIRIE GROVE -- Prairie Grove aldermen last week added a new full-time firefighter's position to the city following a plea from Fire Chief J.C. Dobbs for more help.
This will give the Fire Department three full-time positions. The first one was approved in 2005 and then another one was added a year later.
Dobbs said call volume has increased in Prairie Grove and volunteer participation has decreased as the city has grown.
He said his volunteer firefighters are either at work or at the lake and not able to help like they could in the past. He gave one example on a recent Saturday afternoon. A call came in and Prairie Grove did not have anyone to respond. Farmington was the first one out, Dobbs said, adding, "I hate to say that."
Dobbs said he already has a certified firefighter interested in the position. The candidate previously had volunteered with Prairie Grove and moved away. He now wants to come back. Dobbs said the person is certified to train other firefighters, is a paramedic and would be available to help with public education.
Murph Pair, a former Prairie Grove alderman, spoke on behalf of Dobbs' request, noting Prairie Grove's volunteer department was the best in the state at one time.
"But volunteerism is a thing of the past," Pair said. "People think they are too busy."
Pair said Dobbs' request is a public safety issue and is critical to the city maintaining its ISO fire rating to help on homeowners' insurance.
"This is something that's really important. It's a serious problem that needs attention," Pair said.
Council member Doug Bartholomew, a former firefighter, also gave his support to the new position.
"When you call 911, do you want someone in five minutes or 15 minutes?" Bartholomew asked.
Council member Dale Reed said he supported the request but wondered about paying for it.
Larry Oelrich, director of administrative services and public works, said the city is in good shape financially this year because of revenue from building permits and one-time money from turnback funds and police and fire pension funds. He said, though, he couldn't guarantee funding for future years.
He said the city has not started with a "black budget" for the past eight or nine years. Some years the city ends the year in the black and other years in the red. It averages out, Oelrich said.
Mayor Sonny Hudson told aldermen city staff would do their "absolute best" to make the budget work next year.
The council approved the position with a $29,000 salary. The new firefighter will work four 10-hour shifts. As part of his request, Dobbs agreed to eliminate a part-time position.
"This will help us at least get a truck out the door," Dobbs said.
In other action, the council heard the final and third reading of an ordinance to amend certain restrictions relating to animals and fireworks for agricultural zones. Aldermen adopted the ordinance 5-1 with Bartholomew voting no.
Council also placed an ordinance on second reading to establish disclosure requirements for entities doing business with the city.
The ordinance would require any entity, other than a publicly traded corporation, conducting business with the city to provide certain information before the city would enter into any agreements with the organization. This information would include the names of individuals serving on the board of directors who are members of an LLC or who are partners in a partnership and the names of principal officers.
Aldermen discussed amending the ordinance so it would only apply to transactions in excess of $5,000.
General News on 08/27/2014