Lede: Fire Chief Tom Sniverly presented the fire division’s 2024 activity and a staffing proposal that calls for applying for a FEMA SAFER grant to raise the department’s daily minimum staffing to 21 personnel.

Nut graf: The chief said the department is pursuing a SAFER grant this year that would fund seven firefighter hires for three years and noted that improved EMS documentation and billing has produced a substantial revenue increase that could be used for staffing if a grant is not awarded.

Body: Chief Tom Sniverly said the department’s run volume for 2024 was roughly in line with 2023 and described changes driven by new stations and deployments. The staff and deployment analysis the department commissioned recommended a daily minimum of 21 personnel; chief Sniverly said the department is currently operating below that minimum and will seek a SAFER grant to fund seven firefighter positions that would raise daily staffing toward that level. "My recommendation is gonna be to apply for the SAFER grant... apply for 7 firefighters," Sniverly said.

Sniverly told council a SAFER award would cover a large portion of three years of personnel costs and that the grant program’s precise award terms are not yet known. If the department does not receive the SAFER award, he proposed using increased EMS revenue to cover hires. He said a third‑party billing manager projects an increase of roughly $744,000 in EMS revenue compared with prior years because of improved signature and documentation compliance on Medicare/Medicaid claims.

The chief also gave construction and occupancy timelines for several stations: Station 82 (east side/Renaissance area) is nearing completion with station alerting and signage remaining, followed by planned soft openings and spring open houses; headquarters and other stations were described as progressing with punch‑list work and anticipated late‑spring occupancy dates.

Ending: Sniverly asked council to support a SAFER application and to consider ME/EMS revenue as a funding backstop if the grant is not awarded. Council members discussed the importance of reaching the 21‑person minimum and debated temporary staffing options for new stations while long‑term staffing is pursued.