Beaver Dam’s PFC Recommends Referendum To Fund New Positions In Fire Department

(Beaver Dam) The question of a referendum to fund eight new positions in the Beaver Dam Fire Department has been directed to the common council, following a unanimous recommendation by the city’s Police and Fire Commission Tuesday night. The hiring’s are the conclusion of a study released earlier this year on staffing and the construction of a northside substation. At the mayor’s request, numbers will be assembled for the common council related to the Paramedic Intercept and Interfacility Transport programs. With a paramedic intercept, Beaver Dam personnel meet ambulances from outlying communities, that have agreements with the city, to provide a higher level of care during emergency situations. Interfacility transports generate revenue for Beaver Dam by transporting patients between health care facilities during non-emergency situations if personnel are available. The eight positions recommended in the study include six personnel to staff a third ambulance around the clock along with a dedicated fire inspector and a training chief. The study indicated that in 2017 there were 354 times that the first two ambulances were out at the same time; in 2018 that increased to 425 times. The study also recommends building a substation / training facility in the area of Ganske Road/ County B, west of Highway 151, to help with response on the north side of the city. While he feels a northside substation would benefit the community, Mannel is not asking the community to fund the new facility yet, saying that staffing is an immediate need for public safety. Mannel is hoping to see the matter settled before August 25th, the deadline to get a referendum question on the November ballot.