New station, raises in plans for Spanish Fort fire as city department

By GUY BUSBY
Government Editor
guy@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 8/24/22

SPANISH FORT — Plans for the Spanish Fort Fire Rescue Department include a new station next to city hall and pay increases for firefighters now that they are city employees, Spanish Fort …

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New station, raises in plans for Spanish Fort fire as city department

Posted

SPANISH FORT — Plans for the Spanish Fort Fire Rescue Department include a new station next to city hall and pay increases for firefighters now that they are city employees, Spanish Fort officials said.

The fire department, which had been a separate volunteer agency since being formed in 1962, became a city department with the completion of a merger Aug. 1.

At the Spanish Fort City Council meeting Monday, Aug. 15, nine firefighters who had been paid staff members of the Fire Rescue Department were sworn in as city employees.

"On behalf of the city council, the citizens of Spanish Fort, thank you for what you do, this is the first step of us becoming a full-blown fire department even though we've been there over 60 years,"

Mayor Mike McMillan told the firefighters. "We appreciate you very much."

Spanish Fort Fire Chief Roger Few was sworn in Aug. 1. "This is another step in our journey and I appreciate what we're doing," Few told council members.

During a budget hearing Saturday, Aug. 20, McMillan said the new budget being developed by the council for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 includes raises for firefighters in addition to the pay increases planned for other Spanish Fort employees.

"The fire department, in addition to the 5.9% COLA (cost of living adjustment) and 2.5% increase, we're also recommending an additional 5% because our department is the lowest paid in the county," McMillan told council members.

The Spanish Fort City Council also voted Monday, Aug. 15, to approve a contract with Adams Stewart Architects to design a new fire station. The station will be built on what is now a wooded lot across Wayside Drive from city Hall.

"This is a proposed agreement with the architect, Adam Stewart Architect Inc, for the purpose of design and construction surveillance for a new fire station No. 1 to be constructed on Highway 31," David Conner, city attorney, said. "Several years ago, the city purchased property at the corner of 31 and Wayside Drive for the purpose of constructing a new fire station and this would authorize the architect to proceed with the design instruction for that fire station."

City officials said during previous discussions that the current main fire station on U.S. 31 could be put to other municipal uses, such as providing space for the Public Works Department.

Few said at an earlier meeting that city and fire department officials have discussed a merger between the two groups for more than 10 years. The city has provided funding to the volunteer fire department each year with the municipal budget including $1.6 million for the fire department in the 2021-22 fiscal year budget.

The Volunteer Fire Department will also remain in existence as an agency to raise money for firefighting efforts.