New part-time firefighters sworn in

Dec. 16--EFFINGHAM -- Five new part-time firefighters were sworn in during a brief ceremony at Tuesday's Effingham City Council meeting.

Fire Chief Joe Holomy conducted the badge-pinning ceremony in Council Chambers with the help of fellow firefighters. Each new on-call firefighter selected their own fellow firefighter to do the pinning.

New recruits include Christopher Durbin, Karly Earleywine, Alex Jeffries, Turner Kronewitter and Braden Puckett. These five will join 19 other part-time firefighters and are used on an as-needed basis. They also will participate in weekly training sessions with the department.

Each one will be attending the firefighter academy starting in January. They will attend school two nights a week and Saturdays through May, when they will be required to pass an exam. Following that passage, they will be on-call firefighters for the City of Effingham.

"I offer you my congratulations and much success," Holomy told the group.

In other related firefighting and rescue matters, the council established new charges for fire and rescue services outside of the corporate city limits.

Holomy explained that the department can collect for fire department calls where a non-resident is involved, including interstates, vehicle accidents, vehicle fires or calls in "no man's land" areas. The rate was set at $500 an hour per vehicle.

A non-resident is someone not living in the corporate city limits and not paying property taxes.

"Recently a state statute was amended by the fire protection district side that capped expenses at $250 per hour, per vehicle, and we wanted to bring our fees in line because we anticipate the municipal code will be changed soon."

The fees charged to these non-residents are typically paid by the person's insurance carrier. This is a practice in the city since 2007, said City Attorney Tracy Willenborg.

Willenborg added that charges could also include labor fees and costs of supplies, such as foam used at the scene, for example. This new rate would take effect Jan. 1.

"It helps us recoup our payroll expenses and funds that are utilized by purchasing things like extrication equipment," said Holomy. He said the majority of these funds come from the money collected from interstate calls.

The change would also include charges to respond to the removal of hazardous substances within and outside the corporate limits at the same rate, $250 per hour, per vehicle.

In other matters, the council:

--Accepted a letter of recommendation from the Plan Commission to allow a special-use permit to construct mini-warehouses at 600 W. Wabash Ave. The property is owned by MIXO Enterprises and the permit was requested by Noah Brandenburger, president. A public hearing on the matter was held Dec. 8 without opposition to Brandenburger's request.

--Accepted a bid from Kinney Contractors for the Wabash Avenue Manhole Addition project. Kinney was the lowest responsive bid at $42,180. It will be paid for from Capital Projects, with funding from Tax Increment Financing general.

--Awarded a bid to Kinney Contractors for Sanitary Manhole installation, which had the lowest bid of $46,020. Payment will come from the Sewer Funds.

--Heard the Effingham County Heroes Memorial dedication will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

--Heard there are two more days to vote for one's favorite residence or business lighting display in the city.

Dawn Schabbing can be reached at dawn.schabbing@effinghamdailynews.com or 217-347-7151, ext. 138.

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