Thanks to a three-year, $3 million grant, the Elgin Fire Department will be able to add nine firefighters to its ranks to man a sixth ambulance to help handle a large increase in emergency calls.
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency supports local fire departments that need to build or rebuild their staffing levels, Elgin Fire Chief Robb Cagann told the Elgin City Council at its Wednesday night meeting.
It will offset the city’s total $4.9 million cost to employ more paramedics, who also will be trained as firefighters. Elgin’s share will be $1.8 million over the three years. After the grant expires, the city will take on the costs, Cagann said.
Councilwoman Diana Alfaro noted that the funding for the additional personnel was included in the city’s budget, meaning the city now has “the opportunity to use the funds for something else. Thank you to the fire department and staff for finding this grant opportunity.”
The fire department removed a sixth ambulance from full-time service in 2012 due to budget constraints. At the time, the department determined the loss would not impact emergency medical service.
But last year a study on emergency call volume and requests for mutual aid from neighboring fire departments found there had been a 40% increase since 2012.
Cagann said calls have gone up steadily over the years, with an estimated 77% of the more than 16,000 calls requiring emergency services. The study spotlighted how much Elgin was relying on mutual aid from other departments, particularly the South Elgin Fire Protection District, he said.
A sixth ambulance and additional manpower should reduce that need, Cagann said.
“I’m glad we are adding this vehicle because I know our men and women are taxed,” Councilman Corey Dixon said. The additional personnel will help “overall morale,” he said.
But Dixon questioned if the move will put a burden on the city when the grant runs out after three years.
Cagann acknowledged that the budget would be affected, but it would be difficult to say by exactly how much because salaries and benefits are negotiated between the city and the firefighters union.
Councilwoman Tish Powell said that’s something with which the city will have to deal.
“Yes, we will have some legacy costs, but in the long run this is one of our core services,” Powell said.
The fire department worked closely with the firefighters union before submitting the SAFER grant, Cagann said. It’s money they’ve received before, but this is the largest amount they’ve ever secured, he said.
“What this really shows is the continued collaboration between the local (union) and fire administration,” Cagann said. “It’s been phenomenal (that) we are coming together for the same goals, going in the same direction.”
Cagann did not say how soon the new paramedic/firefighters would be on the job.
This year the fire department is doing a study on future fire station locations. The city council last month approved spending $51,000 to hire a consulting firm to do a comprehensive analysis and come up with a short- and long-range plan. The last one was done in 2017.
Among the options that will be evaluated is the creation of a public service complex on the far west side where the fire, police and public works departments might all be housed.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
