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Port Arthur council hears case for $1 million fire overtime request tied to training, ISO rating and hydrant repairs
Summary
Fire and city staff told the council a $1 million overtime allocation funds training and certifications tied to the city's ISO rating; council asked for details on numbers and costs and for hydrant repair plans after staff said about 2,800 hydrants exist and roughly 200 may be out of service.
Port Arthur's proposed budget includes a $1 million overtime request for the fire department to support training, certifications and readiness tied to the city's Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, Assistant Fire Chief Antonio and city management told the council on Thursday.
Council members asked for more specificity: how many firefighters will attend what classes, the cost per training, and whether those trainees will leave gaps on day shifts. Assistant Fire Chief Antonio described specialized teams'including a dive team with extensive state-level certifications'and said higher certification levels improve the city's ISO score, which helps determine insurance costs for property owners. City Manager Dr. Thigpen framed the request as an investment to maintain the city's ISO Class 2 rating.
Council members also questioned staffing numbers and the fire department's requested headcount. Staff noted a typographical error in the personnel schedule: the department's authorized strength should read 118 (not 111) under the civil service agreement. The council asked staff to provide a clear explanation and the updated personnel page.
Separately, the council pressed for details on hydrants: staff said Port Arthur has approximately 2,800 hydrants and estimated about 200 may be out of service; the most recent replacement cost cited for a single hydrant was about $8,000 to $10,000. Staff said hydrant replacement funding historically relied on competitive grants and that the city has applied for water infrastructure grants to replace lines and associated hydrants as those projects proceed.
Council members agreed training and equipment are important but asked staff to prioritize documentation and cost breakdowns for the overtime request before the budget vote.
Ending: Staff committed to deliver the requested line-item breakdowns and the corrected personnel schedule before council votes on the budget.
