Beaver Dam PFC Trims New Firefighter From Fire Budget

10/4/17 – Two of the largest department budgets in the city of Beaver Dam passed through committee last night. The Beaver Dam Police and Fire Commission advanced both documents from police and fire by consensus. A couple purchase requests were trimmed from the fire department. One additional firefighter / paramedic at a cost of $75-thousand dollars was removed pending the outcome of a study on staffing and facility needs. Commission Chair Jeff Kohman said it would be premature to increase staffing until the results of the study are learned. That $12-thousand-dollar study is also in the budget. It would look at the possibility of adding a second fire station serving the city’s north side. A new $47-thousand-dollar replacement staff car for fire inspections and a secondary command center was also cut. Kohman encouraged the department to use $16-thousand dollars already set aside for a new vehicle to buy a used vehicle instead. The remaining life-saving items made it through the PFC including $47-thousand dollars for replacement turnout gear that helps prevent exposure to cancer causing agents. Fire Chief Matt Christian says it would replace gear that must be replaced and begin a process of providing firefighters with two sets of gear so that a backup is available while contaminants are washed off the primary gear.