3.3. SR 02-07-2005
*Item 3.3.*
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Mayor and City Council
BW
FROM:
Bruce West, Fire Chief
DATE: February 7,2005
SUBJECT: Authorization to Hire Paid On-Call Fire Fighters
The Elk River Fire Department has been in the process of hiring flreflghters once again due to the
change of residency of members. During the past few months, we have advertised, screened, and
interviewed potential candidates for the position of paid on-call flreflghter for the Elk River Fire
Department. With the process now complete, I am requesting Council approval to fill three
positions of paid on-call frreflghters. With the addition of three frreflghter candidates, our roster will
go to 40 to complete our roster.
The Elk River Fire Department personnel committee has selected Andrew Bentzen, Matthew
Hodgman, and David King. The Elk River Fire Department personnel committee believes we have
three excellent candidates for the position of paid on-call frreflghter. The candidates have
successfully completed their fueflghter physicals, stress checks, and background checks and with the
approval of the City Council, the new candidates shall start with the Elk River Fire Department
shordy thereafter.
The process of recruitment and retention of frreflghters has become a very difflcult task for the Elk
River Fire Department. Increased family commitments and increased time commitments to the Elk
River Fire Department for training and frre calls has added to the problem of retaining frreflghters,
not only the Elk River Fire Department but in all of the flre departments throughout the state of
Minnesota.
Of the three candidates, two will be added to Fire Station 1 and one to Fire Station 2. If you have
any questions prior to the meeting, please feel free to call me at the Elk River Fire Department at
763-635-1105.
Action Requested
Council approval to hire three paid on-call frreflghters: Andrew Bentzen, Matthew Hodgman, and
David King.
S:Offsite/Fire/fuefighters/ Auth. To hire memo