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BUCKHANNON -- Buckhannon City Council approved a $5,433,106 budget without funding three additional firemen requested by the Buckhannon Fire Department in favor of seeking grant funding for the positions.
The budget initially presented by director of finance and administration Amberle Jenkins Thursday night included $200,000 for the three career firefighter positions that would have come from savings from CARES Act funding being used in other areas. Council members expressed their desire to fund the three positions, but how to fund them continues to be a topic.
But councilman C.J. Rylands proposed looking at new funding opportunities with the news that additional CARES Act grant opportunities had been released including $100 million for first responders and $200 million additional for SAFER grants.
The City of Buckhannon has applied twice for SAFER grants to fund additional firefighter positions but has not received the funding.
Jenkins said the narrative wasn't clear as to why the City of Buckhannon didn't qualify for a SAFER grant this past round.
"We are not getting more CARES money," she said. "The $200,000 would be a balance on hand. We were infused with some funds through the CARES act to reimburse us for expenses. Those expenses were police and fire wages and benefits. We got actually about $800,000. Through budget revisions we put $300,000 in rainy day fund. We put $30,000 towards the property on Brushy Fork to put a road in. We filled in a gap of $35,000 in self insurance claims. We also expensed $30,000 towards the theatre."
Jenkins said there was also a roof repair.
"We believe we will have a carryover into the next year," she said. "It's general fund's money that was reimbursed for expenses."
Rylands said, "If we have an opportunity to apply for a SAFER grant for three firemen for three years, that's a potential $600,000 grant that is not going to cost us any money.
"If we go ahead and hire these and pay for them out of the general fund, we can't ask for reimbursement for something we have already done. Why not roll the dice and see if the third time is a charm and we get this $600,000 which covers the cost of firemen for three years?"
Councilman Dave Thomas said he knew fire chief J.B. Kimble would rather have new firemen start July 1 but he thought Rylands made a good point.
"It is a good comment and we ought to give it serious consideration," he said.
But councilwoman Pam Bucklew made a motion to pass the budget with the inclusion of hiring three new firemen.
"I think it's our responsibility still to take care of emergency services in this community," she said. "The fire department has showed us year after year how many less volunteers they have, how many more responsibility they have. They have proven to us that it is needed. I think it's time we step up and give them what we feel is needed for this community."
Thomas asked, "Is it the city's responsibility to take care of the first due area 100 percent?"
Reger, joining by phone, seconded Bucklew's motion but the motion ultimately failed with only Bucklew voting for it. Reger said he would withdraw his second in favor of pursuing the grant opportunities.
Thomas said, "I am not against hiring three new firefighters but I am against saying we should do it two or three months early when we might have an opportunity to receive a $600,000 grant. I have said very vehemently that I believe when we do hire the firefighters we could use some of the money that is leftover from what we have received earlier. I am very convinced that at some point in time we are going to have to have a first due fee. If we are required to go with our full--time firefighters to the first due area...the county has some responsibility and they haven't increased their fire fee for 21 years.
Council has discussed a fire due fire fee as a way to fund the three new firefighter positions, but has made no decisions.
Bucklew asked, "So if we don't get the grant, that means we don't hire the firemen? Is that what you are saying?"
Thomas replied, "No. If we don't get the grant, I would make a motion that we use that CARES money and still give J.B. the opportunity to hire someone by July 1 or Aug. 1. I am not saying we don't do it, Pam. I am just saying it is more fiduciary responsible for us to wait 30 days and see."
City recorder Randy Sanders said, "The American Recovery Act is brand new to all of us. Let's take the emotions out of it. Let's continue to use our steady hand on our fiduciary expenses and take the next couple weeks and study it, ask the right questions and see if there is a chance to get those funds lined up and executive it that way If it's not possible, then we go back to this plan."
Thomas made a new motion to approve the budget without the $200,000 for firefighters which was seconded by councilwoman Mary Albaugh. Thomas asked that the funding for firefighters be put on the next agenda. The budget passed with Bucklew voting no.
The budget had to be approved at Thursday's meeting to be submitted to the state by March 28 as required, but Jenkins said revisions can be made.
Bucklew said, "I hope everyone stands behind what they say that yes, they do want three new firemen. It is needed in this community."
Other highlights included in the budget Jenkins reviewed are a 30 cent per hour pay increase for full-time city employees and allocation of either $1,000 or $2,000 for each full-time city employees for a health savings fund, a $5,000 increase to the Upshur County Development Authority for a total of $40,000, a new roof for Buckhannon City Hall at $120,000, $127,856 for police capitol expenses such as cruisers, computers and body cams, CALEA and other small equipment purchases.
In addition, $17,000 of that money will go to the Volunteers in Police Service. There will be $140,938 towards capital expenses for fire truck payments, NFPA expenses, GIS expenses, computer, volunteer expenses, stairmaster and new hoses. Another $22,000 will go to turnout gear.
There is also $135,000 to the consolidated public works board for city parks upkeep and supplementing the horticulturist salary. Jenkins said the cemetery mowing will be outsourced this year.
An additional $282,000 has been allocated for paving projects.