Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Taking it to the Streets
How do you feel about the Fredericktown fire department paying firefighters to do paperwork and equipment maintenance?
I don't give a hoot one way or another. I live in Mt.
Vernon. It's none of my business.
July 26, 2008, 5:42 am
Submitted by Jay From MT. Vernon, OH 71.2.5.34
it's fredricktown,who care!
July 26, 2008, 8:11 am
Submitted by buzz From mt vernon, oh 71.72.72.225
We don't have enough money for anything. I respect the FD
but, not enough money to do that.
July 26, 2008, 9:05 am
Submitted by ARP From Fredericktown , oh 24.95.75.115
It is part of being a fire dept. Paperwork, maintenance
checks on equipment, if they don't do it one day they wont
be able to come save your butt when you need it. Mt Vernon
pays their ems/ff to do the same thing. As a volunteer we
dont get that benefit. but f-town does a lot more runs than
ppl think. Its public safety and the paper work keeps you
ppl from having to buy new equipment, they do it for grants
to get equipment further training and skills. go hang out at
a dept for a day see what all they do it isn't all about
riding on the big red truck!
July 26, 2008, 9:32 am
Submitted by emtff82 From Mount vernon, oh 71.79.107.240
Paperwork & maintenannce --isn't it just due dillegence?
Why should they be paid above / beyond? Any complaints
otherwise smacks of a lazy unionist mentality.
July 26, 2008, 9:56 am
Submitted by JPE From Fredericktown, OH 74.163.53.23
Goes to show that NOTHING is free these days..volunteers
know there is no money in it when they Volunteer!! My
understanding is that the "community room" is no
longer for the community to use..should have seen that one
coming!!
July 26, 2008, 10:26 am
Submitted by Heatha From Mt.Vernon, Oh 65.189.163.98
WOULD YOU RATHER PAY AN OUTSIDER TO DO IT? BE HAPPY YOU HAVE
A FULL TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT!
July 26, 2008, 1:35 pm
Submitted by JP From gambier, OH 12.43.213.234
Hence the word VOLUNTEER!!!!!! They are already paid for
every meeting they attend and for showing up at a fire
whether they do anything or not. Money is tight if they are
in it for money they are in it for the wrong reasons.
July 26, 2008, 2:33 pm
Submitted by Denny From Fredercktown, OH 24.95.75.34
Iím certainly hoping a copy of this letter makes it to Kay
and Cheryl because it seems there was little thought put
into how the question was asked. This single question
undercut the hard work and great article written by another
MVN journalist.

It was rather misleading as
there is more to this position than paperwork and
maintenance. Please refer to the previous MVN article that
ran last week. The 80-hour per month cap for this position
is for a variety of jobs and work not only in the station,
but the community that is served. Fire prevention programs,
safety education, school programs, grant writing, website
maintenance, 250 building inspections, NFIRS state report
entry, truck maintenance, building maintenance, grounds
maintenance, the list is actually very long of things that
are to be completed. So its not forgotten, that person is
also another able-bodied firefighter that is at the ready
when a call comes in.

The purpose of this
position is not to make a fire department part-time or
full-time as other stations are in the county. The purpose
is to provide some pay for the large amount of duties and
work that is being completed. It's NOT an incentive bonus;
it doesn't come with benefits, a company car, or a
retirement package. While we are not a staffed part-time or
full-time station, we are a department that can and
typically does respond the first time we are toned out./>
Since weíre on the topic of financial wellbeing.
Through grants the department was awarded funding that made
a little over $80,000 available to the latest in extrication
equipment. This single purchase put our department at the
forefront of technology for rescue in the Knox County and
surrounding areas. Had we not received the grant, the
purchase might not have been possible for three to five
years. Funding from grants covers the cost of training our
firefighters to the highest levels possible. Since the
beginning of 2008 we have written grants for nearly $820,000
in new funding for lifesaving equipment, gear, station
equipment, advanced training, fire prevention programs, and
much more. Roughly 300 hours has been spent personally this
year on grant writing and there are still three other grants
that I am seeking before the year is up.

Last
year the FCFD responded to a total of 225 runs, the number
does not include EMS calls. Over the last five years we
have seen an increase of about 20% in calls in an area that
has continued to develop and grow.

The FCFD is a
very proactive department that has an active role within the
community. Our members are very active, dedicated, and are
at a constant ready to respond to incidents within our
community and abroad. While I donít have the exact number
in front of me, its safe to say that our volunteers give
hundreds if not thousands of hours per year that never makes
it in the newspaper. Toy drives, fan drives, helping with
Relay for Life, ROCCfest, Fourth of July, Tomato Show, the
Car show, donating large sums of food, being on the
forefront of inspections, technology, grant writing, and
having people that genuinely want to help their community.


Please feel free to visit our website at
www.fredericktownfire.net or you can contact me through
email: jbostic@fredericktownfire.net. While I wonít post
my personal cell phone number, I can be reached at the
station at 694-9701.

Thank you,

Jason
A. Bostic
FFI / Public Information Coordinator/>Fredericktown Community Fire District

July 26, 2008, 4:01 pm
Submitted by Jason Bostic From Fredericktown, OH 24.210.130.34
Seems to me they should use the Public Information
Coordinator for Fredericktown Community Fire District to do
the job because he seems to have more than enough time on
his hands.
July 26, 2008, 4:58 pm
Submitted by Larry From Mount Vernon, OH 76.181.106.24
They do what they want in the county any way. Secure HazMat
Barrels in the firehouse, sniff gas cans on fire runs and
so on. Why not!
July 26, 2008, 9:24 pm
Submitted by Robert From MV, Oh 69.214.165.105
Ok Denny, Larry and Robert, here's my advice I am a 3rd
generation VOLUNTEER. We risk our lives when peeple choose
to drink and drive and crash into helpless families, when
children catch their houses on fire, we are the ones who
blaze in while everyone else is scrambling out! And Jason
doesn't have all the time in the world. He informs of
changes and do you realize that now every firefighter has to
pay for computerized testing out of pocket as well as have
several hours of continued training. I hate to be the bearer
of bad news but cars and hydrolic tools do not fall freely
from the sky and land at a fire dept. I suggest you goto
Asst. Chief Menapace at MVFD and ask him he is a former
volunteer and now assists in all functions of MVFD. We
aren't in it for money. We are in it because our hearts are
in public safety YOUR safety. We train hard and study and
spend alot of our money for schooling to be ems and fire
personnel. Talk to the coordinator for public safety at the
career center ask her what all a dept has to endure. We get
up in the middle of the night for sick, injured, dying and
simple drunk calls. And don't ask for anything! Please
don't comment if you have absolutely NO knowledge of the
Fire and EMS world! We are your future when you need us. We
will be the one's who are your knight in shining armor when
you are the one who has or who's family has dialed 911 for
help. God bless and may he open your eyes and not pass
judgement on you as you have to those who do this because
they love it but realize these vehicles don't reproduce
diesel fuel, and gasoline and the fire depts are there when
you need them. they do charity work as well, benefit dinners
for ill and dying family members of the community. And
remember 9/11 many volunteer depts left home for weeks to
assist in the most horrific ordeal where their brotherhood
was broken and dying for others whom they did not know!
July 26, 2008, 10:36 pm
Submitted by emtff82 From Mount vernon, oh 71.79.107.240
For anyone who is against the idea of hiring a person for
this job.....Come to your local fire department. Volunteer
your time to make runs. Leave your families on holidays,
birthdays, and go on runs at all hours of the night. It
seems to me the people who are having a problem with it are
the same people who are to afraid to help. It just goes to
show that the majority of people around here are never
happy, no matter what you do. If it takes the fire
department 5 minutees to get to your house, you complain.
If the FD puts people at the station to respond to runs and
do the jobs that we have to do on a daily basis, you still
complain. Some people just cant be made happy.
July 27, 2008, 8:21 am
Submitted by Derek From Mt. Vernon, OH 12.43.213.234
SUCH HOSTILITY. GLAD I LIVE IN GAMBIER.
AND GO
BUCKS!
July 27, 2008, 10:53 am
Submitted by JP From GAMBIER, OH 12.43.213.234
WAY TO GO Derek! I agree you you 100%. If it was for the
Firefighters of Fredericktown. My son would not be here now.
Charlie (A police offer) and The Great man of women of the
Fire Dept. Thank you very much. PLEASE PAY THEM ALL. My son
life is priceless. IS YOURS?
July 27, 2008, 2:45 pm
Submitted by joenohio From Fredericktown, Oh 24.95.95.98
I see this as a non-issue. The pay isn't going to one
firefighter, they will all be scheduled to perform these
duties. And why shouldn't they be payed? They work hard
and do not receive compensation when they make the run to a
fire or accident. I for one would rather them get paid to
do paperwork and maintenance so that if and when I ever need
them the trucks run and the Volunteers show up so that my
emergency can be taken care of. God Bless the men and women
that put their lives on the line and their lives on hold
when the community needs them. Good work FCFD!
July 28, 2008, 10:28 am
Submitted by kp From Fredericktown, OH 156.33.195.149
I definitely support it. Its great have volunteers and
volunteers are already providing a great cost-savings.
However, when volunteers are "stretched too thin",
it makes perfect sense to pay those who have already shown
loyalty and commitment through their vounteer efforts.
July 28, 2008, 10:28 am
Submitted by sarah From mt. vernon, oh 71.55.59.182
Times have changed, and so have the roles of EMT's and
Firefighters. I am a member of the Fredericktown Emergency
Squad Board of Trustees and in the many years that I have
served my community in that role, I have seen numerous
changes. Mainly due to the increase in population in and
around Fredericktown. Because of that increase and the
increased amounts of emergency runs, we have had to change
the way that we do business in order to serve our community
with emergency services. The Fredericktown EMS has had paid
staff at the station for a number of years - during the day
time hours. We are able to not only reach an emergency
quicker, but we have staff available should someone need
their blood pressure taken, as an example. We have become a
more efficient squad meeting the needs of our community in
the 21st century. My hats off to the Fredericktown Fire
Department for their move - none of us want them to show up
at a fire emergency and find their equipment hasn't been
properly maintained, having staff available for that reason
makes me feel a bit safer - Thanks Fredericktown Fire!!
July 28, 2008, 12:52 pm
Submitted by Harley's Mom From Fredericktown, OH 76.6.228.31
I am a resident in Fredericktown and I think we have a
wonderful community and I have no problem with them having a
paid person in our fire department who is doing this kind of
work. Instead of going off on our fire department personnel,
we should be happy that we even have one here. The men and
women work hard to keep our town safe for us and we need to
be more grateful to them. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!!! GOD
BLESS ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!!!
July 28, 2008, 12:56 pm
Submitted by js From Fredericktown, oh 4.224.210.47
Could we complain about anything else? No one and I mean no
one does a job without pay.
July 28, 2008, 1:03 pm
Submitted by Diane From Mount Vernon, OH 71.0.196.113
Diane, I volunteer and do not get paid for my volunteer
runs. I do it because this is what I love to do. I am a born
an raised emt/ff dedicated to the service of helping man
kind. ANd God Bless all of you that are coming to the
defense of a much needed growth for FCFD. As well as the
crews they have are amazing! They have the best knowledge
and skills and keep pushing themselves to better and broaden
the skill they have!
July 28, 2008, 1:46 pm
Submitted by emtff82 From Mount vernon, oh 71.79.107.240
GIVE ME A BREAK,when these people sign it is for the love of
their Community, Knowing that they will be expected to go
out at all hours of the day and night not knowing what they
will be getting into nor if someday one or more may not
return. This should not even be discussed, instead a
handshake, a thank you and an atta boy should be handed out.
If a small reward like a few bucks to help pay for the gas
that they use to get to the fire house then let it happed.
July 28, 2008, 2:34 pm
Submitted by Rich From MTV , Oh 71.0.196.113
I had a fire once, big one, lost everything, I did not live
in the Fredericktown dist. The fire Dept responded in 17
minutes, when the got there they couldn't get enough water
to the fire because of equipment malfunctions. What the
news should have asked was the opinion of the people the
FCFD has helped and saved, the people the fire district has
helped. All of the critics should walk a mile in their
shoes and the shoes of the ones they assisted. The people
in a volunteer fire department ARE NOT IN IT FOR THE
MONEY.

Thanks
July 28, 2008, 4:32 pm
Submitted by LAC From MT Vernon, OH 72.240.124.161
Wow - what an important question. Let's not talk about gas
prices, world peace or the election. Let;s talk about a
bunch of hilljacks at a fire station. Good job!!
July 28, 2008, 5:28 pm
Submitted by Sam From Mt.V, OH 74.69.113.9
Golly Sam, settle down! No more coffee for you!!You better
switch to de-caf!
July 29, 2008, 8:11 am
Submitted by Juan Valdez From Buenos Aires, Ar 63.161.86.254
What part of volunteer dont you understand? They shouldnt
get paid. If you start paying them for paper work, then you
should start paying them to get there quicker. If I still
lived in fredericktown I would be more worried about how to
improve the response time rather than paying for paperwork.
I think the people that volunteer are great people and this
should not be held against them, but you look at adding
another tax to home owners in fredericktown.
July 29, 2008, 9:30 am
Submitted by Al From Mount Vernon, Oh 24.210.87.237
From listening to my scanner all the time at home it seems
like they are always pretty darn quick at responding. First
time called, their people show up and don't have to rely on
four or five other depts. From all the news I've read they
seem to be very busy, active, and doing a good job. I
didn't read where the department was asking for any new
money. It should be time for a renewal, but thats it.
Seems like a lot more than paperwork happens. Wonder what
it costs a volunteer to be so active and be involved? I pay
my taxes, I vote for levies, and thankfully to this point i
haven't had a fire. If I do have one, I know that help is
on the way.
July 29, 2008, 10:24 am
Submitted by Don From Ankneytown, OH 66.213.68.9
I am sure I have volunteered places where someone got paid.
You mean to tell me, for example, that no one at the Board
of Elections gets paid for doing 'paperwork' while everyone
else volunteers at the polls? I cannot think of a single
situation where you have voluneers without someone getting
paid.
July 29, 2008, 12:56 pm
Submitted by Diane From Mount Vernon, oh 71.0.196.113
Have you ever had a member of your family serve as a
Volunteer Firefighter/EMT? I will proudly say that I have.
My Dad loved VOLUNTEERING and saving peoples lives and
homes. My son, now proudly follows in his Grandpa's
footsteps. Not one time have I ever heard either one of them
say, "Oh, let that person die" or "Let that
family lose their home, I'm busy now". Busy might have
been on Christmas Day, at a Family Reunion or after they had
just came home from fighting a house fire for 4 hours. Yes,
they got tired, missed things they would like to be at, but
did your loved one have a better chance because they left
their family on Christmas Day to do everything they could to
save them? Yes.
I imagine that most of the people
complaining about this issue are the same ones who complain
about working for a living or sit by their mailbox the 1st
of every month to get a check for doing nothing---and guess
what? Those VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS have jobs that pay the
taxes that pays you for doing nothing. Get the point? />My family will PROUDLY stick up for the members of the
Fredericktown, EKJFD, Mt. Vernon, Jefferson, or any other
department in the USA because we know people on these
departments that make them the best they can be.
How
many of you remember a few months back when a dearly loved
firefighter lost his fight to cancer? Did you happen to see
what those VOLUNTEER firefighters did to try to help his
family? I did--and there was not a dry eye in the place./>In closing--I have one more thing to say--unless you are a
volunteer OR city paid firefighter/EMT who is ready 24/7 to
put your life on the line to save someone else's life, home,
child, even their cat in the tree--KEEP QUIET AND STOP
TYPING. And, to the individual at the MV News who put this
question in the paper--shame on you--I think you have
another issue and this is just your way of getting your weak
point across.
July 29, 2008, 1:10 pm
Submitted by Pat From Howard, OH 74.5.58.250
Whoa Whoa Whoa Pat! Take it down a notch. So who is it
that makes these people volunteer? Could it
be...THEMSELVES? These people SHOULDN'T be paid. Although
- they do need beer money for Sun-Sat. Can we just pay them
in beer?
July 29, 2008, 1:22 pm
Submitted by Sam From Mt.V, OH 74.69.113.9
Sam, Why don't you just sit back and collect your WELFARE
check and SHUT UP!!!!!
July 29, 2008, 1:39 pm
Submitted by JLB From Fredericktown, oh 12.43.213.234

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