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Rossford fire chief seeks four additional full-time firefighters; council holds first reading
Summary
An ordinance introduced Sept. 8 would increase Rossford’s full-time fire staff from 12 to 16 to allow four-person staffing on each shift; council held a first reading and asked for further review of costs and staffing implications.
Rossford City Council held a first reading on Ordinance 2025-66 on Sept. 8, a proposal to amend the municipal code on the city’s full-time fire department staffing. The ordinance would increase full-time positions from 12 to 16, with the intent of enabling four personnel on each daily shift.
Why it matters: Council and the chief framed the change as intended to improve coverage and safety by ensuring consistent four-person crews on A, B, C and D shifts. Council’s finance and safety committees discussed budget impacts and long-term costs.
During the meeting, Chief Soroka told council, “This will take us up from 12 full time up to 16, which would allow us to have four people on duty every day through A, B, C, and D shift. And this will help us in our coverage and making sure that we have people that have safety because what we're doing now is not working.”
A finance-committee representative noted the primary cost differences stem from retirements and insurance, estimating “roughly $200,000 to $300,000 difference” in ongoing costs compared with the current staffing mix. Council members discussed returning the item for additional readings so committees can further vet budget implications and staffing plans.
Council took no final vote on the ordinance; members suggested more time for review and agreed to consider committee input before advancing further readings. The ordinance remains at first reading and will return to council for additional deliberation.
