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Highwood may supplement manning with contract personnel
Certainly! Here's the rewritten version:
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I came across this interesting snippet from the Chicago Tribune website:
It seems the City of Highwood might team up with a private company to hire extra firefighters and paramedics. This move is aimed at keeping enough staff on hand to meet the requirements set by the Insurance Services Office for fire insurance ratings. According to City Manager Scott Coren, the Highwood Fire Department needs at least four members on duty to maintain their current rating. This number also aligns with the staffing levels agreed upon in the collective bargaining agreement with the local fire union, which is affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Highwood also benefits from automatic-aid agreements, where they can call on assistance from neighboring departments like those in Highland Park and Lake Forest. In turn, these departments can rely on Highwood when needed.
On April 8th, the Highwood City Council narrowly voted 4-3 to authorize negotiations with Kurtz Paramedic Services or another firm to bring in additional full-time firefighters. Currently, Highwood’s fire department, which serves around 5,400 residents, consists of four full-time firefighters/paramedics who are not in their probationary period. There’s also one probationary employee and a few part-time workers to fill gaps. If the contract goes through, it will go into effect after a 30-day waiting period, potentially wrapping up by mid-May.
City Manager Coren assured everyone that there are no plans to let go of any of the existing full-time firefighters if they decide to partner with a private firm. Kurtz Paramedic Services, which is already quite large, employs over 750 firefighters and paramedics. They’re contracted with 26 different municipalities and fire protection districts, including places like Wheaton, Bensenville, and Tinley Park.
Tom Vana, the CEO of Kurtz, mentioned during the meeting that their average employee has nearly 15 years of experience. If they secure the contract, they plan to prioritize hiring from the current Highwood team, unless someone else transfers in.
Fire Battalion Chief David Mohry voiced concerns during the council meeting. He worries that even adding just a few private employees could disrupt the department’s dynamic, especially given the potential for higher turnover rates.
Thanks for sharing this, Dan!
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This version is slightly over 500 characters and reads more like a personal account rather than a formal article.