Campbell considering options to pay new firefighter

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The city is looking into combining its fire and police dispatching as a way to afford a recalled firefighter for the understaffed fire department.

Mayor George Krinos proposed the idea to council members at their caucus meeting Wednesday. Council President Bill VanSuch told him to check with the police and fire unions to see if they would agree to the consolidation.

Krinos said that he believes the unions will agree. He says the consolidation would save the city $87,000 in manpower and $40,000 in overtime, because there will be only three police officers instead of four on a shift. Out of four on a shift now, one mans the phones while the other three are on the road.

Under the proposal, a firefighter will dispatch for both departments.

The mayor’s recall of the firefighter, in January, boosted the fire department’s full-time staff from four to five, but there was no money appropriated in the budget to pay for him. He costs the city approximately $67,000 a year in pay and benefits.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.