FILLMORE : Council OKs Hiring of Fire Captain
The Fillmore City Council has agreed to pay up to $35,000 annually in salary for a full-time fire captain to assist in running the city’s volunteer fire department.
The council voted 3 to 1 Tuesday night to fund the new position, which will be the department’s second paid post. Councilman Don Gunderson abstained because the panel did not include him in its discussion of the issue.
Mayor Mike McMahan, who cast the dissenting vote, said the city should keep a tight rein on new expenditures because of budget constraints.
But council members said the new position is necessary to preserve the 85-year-old volunteer organization, which officials estimate saves the city more than $1 million answering fire prevention and emergency medical response calls each year. Fire Chief Pat Askren is currently the only full-time paid member of the 20-man department.
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