Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trustees approve part-time firefighter pay increase; fire chief reports KFC blaze caused about $300,000 damage
Summary
Trustees passed a resolution to increase part-time firefighter pay by 3.5%; the fire chief reported a Dec. 15 restaurant fire that caused roughly $300,000 in damage but was controlled within about 30 minutes with no major injuries reported in the transcript.
The Delhi Township trustees unanimously approved a wage adjustment for part-time firefighters and heard a report from the fire chief about a restaurant structure fire that caused about $300,000 in damage but was brought under control quickly by township crews.
In a formal vote, the board adopted Resolution 2024-190, which amends Article 21 (wages) of the collective bargaining agreement with the Delhi Firefighters Association to provide a 3.5% increase for part-time firefighters who had gone more than 14 months without an increase. "This is a recommendation to the board to consider a 3 and a half percent increase commensurate with other contractual employees on the department," the presenting official said before the motion. The roll-call vote recorded Missus Seavie: Yes; Mister Davis: Yes; Missus Stearts: Yes.
Fire incident report
Fire Chief Campbell (Fire Department) updated the trustees on a restaurant fire at a Kentucky Fried Chicken location on Sunday evening. The chief described the timeline and response: "Alarm came in at 9:31. First unit responded and showed up on the scene in 3 minutes. Immediately, sized up the situation, did the radio report, and began extinguishment. Fire was under control in less than a half hour. It was ultimately brought under control with 9 apparatus, 21 individuals." The chief told the board early estimates put structure damage at about $300,000 and noted the property value was about three-quarters of $1 million; initial insurer contacts were pursuing a remodel rather than demolition.
Why it matters: the wage increase affects part-time firefighters who staff shifts and responses, and the fire department's quick response and containment limited property damage and potential injuries. The resolution formalizes compensation changes for noncontracted part-time staff and passed with unanimous trustee support.
Additional notes
- The chief said early indications suggested the KFC fire likely originated in dining-room electrical/lighting work related to a prior remodel and that investigators did not consider the incident suspicious.
- The board also approved routine department budget items and training increases described in the prior budget presentations; trustees and department heads highlighted that hospitalization/medical costs are up across departments and are driving some of the increases in the 2025 departmental budgets.
- The fire department noted prior staffing retirements and the need for expanded training and professional development to maintain service levels; the board discussed funding for training and apparatus payments from the TIF and other funds.
No public comment addressing the fire or wage resolution was recorded in the meeting transcript.
