Wis. city rejects firefighters' SAFER grant plan

By Mark Schaaf
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

OAK CREEK, Wis. — How does a city balance public safety issues with budget woes?

That was the issue in Oak Creek when the Common Council ultimately decided against contributing toward a grant that would have meant three additional firefighters over a five-year span.

SAFER idea
The Oak Creek Fire Department was a candidate to receive a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grant. The city would have contributed about $100,000 in the first year, with costs rising each year for a total of about $1 million over five years.

The federal government would have kicked in an average of $65,000 per year.

Fire Chief Brian Satula argued more firefighters are needed because retirements are on the horizon and the department's call volume is increasing. In addition, the grant would save the city money in the first two years by offsetting overtime costs, he said.

City hiring freeze
But the city is also under a hiring freeze — and that includes the Fire Department, aldermen and city officials said.

Some city officials also disputed the idea of decreased overtime costs, saying overtime would go down at first but eventually rise again. Aldermen said they would always like more firefighters but, considering the city's financial difficulties, the timing couldn't have been worse.

On Aug. 3, the council voted 4-2 against accepting the grant, with Aldermen Dan Jakubczyk and Daniel Bukiewicz in support.

"I wish we could have done this, but we can't because we are stressed," Mayor Dick Bolender said. "We're going to have to operate with what we have.

"The taxpayer can take no more. We will not raise taxes, or Oak Creek's part of the taxes. If that makes people mad because we don't get something built, that's too bad. But I'm looking out for the taxpayer."

Grant not certain
It was not certain the Fire Department would receive the grant even if the council had approved it — the council's vote was essentially to pay its share of the grant should it be awarded.

In fact, the odds of getting the grants were slim — less than two grants per state are awarded, Satula said. But Oak Creek was on the list as the next eligible department if another applicant did not accept, he said.

Copyright 2009 Journal Sentinel Inc.