Sunday, December 05, 2004

The Bowling Green Fire Department enjoyed its second recent staff expansion with the swearing in of five new firefighters three of whom are in newly created positions, courtesy of the half-percent increase in the citys occupational tax in April 2003.

Michael Webster, 26, of Franklin; Doug Morris, 26, of Morgantown; Brian Hope, 36, of Morgantown; Lee Hatcher Jr., 29, of Scottsville; and Michael Harvey Jr., 33, of Bowling Green, were sworn in Monday.

Hope, formerly a volunteer firefighter of eight years with the Morgantown Volunteer Fire Department, said he enjoys the camaraderie developed among firefighters during 24-hour stays at the department.

Theyve really helped me out. Ive really enjoyed being with them, he said. Its busier here, but it really wasnt a hard adjustment. Of course, youre here 24 hours and you get a lot more calls throughout the day and night, but I didnt have a hard time adjusting.

You get to help people. It was something I always enjoyed doing on a volunteer basis and this was one way I could get to do it more.

The occupational tax hike that enabled the staff increase came when the citys police and fire departments released studies showing the need for about 34 more employees to deal with increased service calls, City Manager Chuck Coates told the Daily News last spring.

The fire department was also able to create three new positions in October 2003 and expects to receive funding for three more officers next year because of the tax hike, which resulted from police and fire department requests for about 34 more employees to deal with increased service calls.

With the additional money, the Bowling Green Police Department created four new sworn-officer positions in October 2003, four new officer positions this October and expects to receive funding to hire at least four more officers next October.

After the final three (firefighters) are on board, we hope to begin another ladder company, Fire Chief Gerry Brown said, adding that the department currently has two ladder companies one of which doubles as an engine truck. Obviously, it would have been very difficult for us to do anything other than maintain our current staffing levels if we had not received (the additional funding). It lets us provide a higher level of service.

In the pre-hire process, prospective firefighters must undergo a physical agility test, a written test and polygraph test. Upon being hired, the new firefighters had to undergo eight weeks of basic training and will also continue training throughout their career.

Its worth it, Hope said. Its pretty rigorous, but its worth it.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700