At this Monday's meeting (Oct 26), the Council is expected to execute a contract with the Fairhope Volunteer Fire Department Inc.--spelling out terms of service, compensation, etc.
Basically, the Fire Dept. Inc. agrees to provide fire protection/maintain the equipment in its jurisdiction (inside city limits given priority); and the city provides workmen's compensation insurance, a yearly physical exam, and a conditional $10 per call payment to firemen (among other things).
City Administrator Greg Mims: "This is something we've needed for a long time. The consultants that did . . . the impact fee study . . . several years ago . . . pointed out we really needed one . . . there's about $150,000 in the impact fee fire fund. . . can't be distributed . . . until we have one."
Council President Quinn: "They (impact fee consultants) . . . insinuated . . . since they're volunteers (firemen). . . they could decide not to show up . . . for the fire tomorrow . . . without a contract . . . they wouldn't do that, of course."
Councilman Kingea asked if fire protection could be limited to just within the city limits but was told by Mims that was problematic-- since donations are received from outside the city limits and the irregular (city limit) line would create great confusion. Mims: "They'd (Fire Dept. Inc.) never agree to it anyway."
Mims also said Fire Chief Saraceno had concerns about current fire inspection policies/procedures-- and he and inspector Fulford were working to resolve them.
Comments by citizens should be directed to the Council.
[Publisher's note: According to the IRS, The Fairhope Volunteer Fire Department Inc. is classified as a tax exempt 501c3 corporation; and its yearly tax returns are required to be open for public inspection.]
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