At least one new position would be added to the Fort Dodge Fire Department and a major investment in new digital radios would be made under the proposed 2019-2020 budget for the agency.

The proposed budget totals $2,068,815, according to information presented to the City Council Monday.

That’s up slightly from the current $2,043,362 budget.

The ambulance service provided by the department has its own budget.

The proposed ambulance budget is $1,544,970, with $1.3 million in revenue anticipated. The Fire Department assumed full responsibility for the ambulance service from UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center on July 1, 2018.

Fire Department

Out of the department’s 49 personnel, 30 are paid for from the Fire Department budget, which is funded primarily by property tax dollars.

When former Assistant Fire Chief Lenny Sanders resigned in June 2018 to become the fire science coordinator at Iowa Central Community College, the money for his salary was left in the budget. Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter has proposed using some of that money to create a new fire marshal/community risk reduction coordinator position.

That individual would examine site plans and building designs to ensure their compliance with fire safety rules, They would also inspect commercial buildings. They would work closely with city building inspectors and the state Fire Marshal’s Office. The council has already approved creating the position.

After a current firefighter is transferred into this new position, a new entry-level firefighter will be hired to replace that person.

The city hasn’t had a fire marshal since Assistant Fire Chief Doug Ostbloom retired in December 2015.

Hergenreter told the council Monday that he hopes to add a second lieutenant’s position to each shift. Each shift now has a captain and a lieutenant. Hergenreter said with 14 people on a shift and everything from fire calls to long distance ambulance transfers going on at the same time, supervision can be tough, especially if the captain or lieutenant is absent.

The proposed budget envisions spending $275,000 for digital radios. Hergenreter said public safety agencies across the state are switching to digital radios, which can transmit across longer distances.

The budget also includes $47,000 to replace a 2000 Dodge Durango. Hergenreter said at a recent fire scene, the vehicle was putting out almost as much smoke as the fire itself.

Ambulance budget

Hergenreter said 19 of the department’s employees are paid for through the ambulance budget, which is funded by fees charged for service.

The billing is handled by a private company, which will charge the city $98,000 in 2019-2020.

Hergenreter told the council that the department now orders its medical supplies directly, instead of going through UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center. That, he said, saves $20,000 a year.