The Ocean Shores City Council voted for a measure to increase staffing for the city’s fire department by two positions in 2023 and two further positions in 2024 on Monday night.

Mayor Jon Martin said he hopes he can work with the union to sit down and figure out a plan for increased staffing in the future, balancing the financial demand on residents with the medical needs of the aging population.

“I feel like it’s a measured solution. It’s a tough decision for them and they were being pulled in a lot of different ways,” said Corey Kuhl, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2109. “We appreciate that we’re making steps in the right direction.”

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Martin said it’s a step, but the issue will continue to exist, exacerbated by Ocean Shores’ position at the end of a lengthy road to facilities offering higher levels of health care, and a population whose growing size and advancing average age increase both the number and the severity of medical issues the fire department expects to confront.

“It is a challenging issue that we have to deal with,” Martin said. “Being a rural city with an aging population, balancing the financial challenge.”

Martin said he hopes to work with the union to find a good path forward toward protecting Ocean Shores residents.

“I think it’s still a contentious issue. It still doesn’t bring it up to the level we need to service,” Martin said. “My hope is to sit down with the union and map out a plan for the future to get us to adequate staffing.”

Kuhl said the increase in staffing will help increase the number of personnel on duty with each shift from four to five. Kuhl said the union would love to fill all four positions immediately instead of two per year, but he understands the city is spreading out the financial impact to the public of increased monthly commitment. The plan will see the ambulance utility rates increase from $19.03 to $28.16 per household per month, The Daily World previously reported.

“We’re excited. This should allow us to increase our minimum daily staffing by 25 percent,” Kuhl said. “It’s a huge step towards the recommendation of seven per day. It’s a huge progress that you can touch. It’s tangible.”

Hang fire

The positions will be opened for applications soon, Martin said, but it may take some time before the department gets bodies to fill them.

“We can start posting. We just hired two and we still have one open position. With fire and EMS, there’s a lengthy processing,” Martin said. “They still have to go through the interviews and the psych evaluations and all of that.”

The city is also looking at other ways of reinforcing their capabilities, including grants or other options, though the city just got word that its application for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant from the federal government was not accepted this year, said City Administrator Scott Andersen.

“We officially received notice today that we did not receive the SAFER grant,” Andersen said. “Money was put aside to do a study to see what it would take to start (a regional fire authority).”

Kuhl said he appreciated that the city was taking steps forward toward more complete staffing.

“We’re getting there. Light at the end of the tunnel,” Kuhl said. “We’re appreciative of the tough decisions they had to make.”

Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.