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Council approves public-safety equipment and personnel measures: HVAC, grant-writing, pay adjustments and FBI MOU
Summary
Council approved a $373,674 HVAC purchase for the new public-safety facility, authorized a grant-writing services agreement for radios, approved HR pay-scale changes for firefighters and adopted an MOU with the FBI regional computer-forensics laboratory; council said total recurring cost of the pay changes is estimated at about $139,000 annually.
Madison City Council on Monday approved several measures affecting public-safety operations: a facilities HVAC purchase for the new combined public-safety building, continued pursuit of a FEMA Assistant to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for radios, pay-scale adjustments for firefighters and an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the FBI's Tennessee Valley Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.
Facilities and grounds presented Resolution 2024-403-R to accept a proposal to purchase HVAC equipment for the city's new public-safety annex (Fire Station 4 and additional police space) through the OMNI cooperative for $373,674. The council approved the purchase by roll-call vote. Facilities staff emphasized the building's role as a 38,000-square-foot public-safety facility that also adds roughly 20,000 square feet for police operations.
The fire department requested a professional-services agreement with Vickers Consulting Services to write an AFG application targeting replacement radios; the agreement would be reimbursed from the fire department budget for an initial $1,500 professional fee. The chief said the city's radios are aging ("Our radios are 2010"), and parts support is becoming difficult; council approved the agreement.
Under human resources, council approved two related items: additions to the job classification plan for parks and recreation (a part-time receptionist and a transportation coordinator) and changes to the fire-department pay scale recommended after the city's compensation study. The fire-department changes include a proposed 14% promotional increase for firefighters promoted to driver (up from an earlier recommended 7% promotional bump) and an 18% percentage increase between battalion chief and deputy chief. City staff estimated the total cost of the fire pay changes at about $139,000 to be added to the fire salary budget; staff said the budget amendment could be made at midyear.
The council also approved Resolution 2024-407-R to reauthorize an MOU with the FBI's Tennessee Valley Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory; Madison Police said the partnership helps investigate computer-related crimes such as child-exploitation cases and noted the city's unique canine unit that detects electronic media.
All four items passed on council votes during the meeting. Staff described the HVAC and pay-scale items as investments in public safety and retention; the chief and HR staff said the pay adjustments are intended to improve retention and parity within the fire department.
