Linn County commissioners approved a personnel hire and pay increases for volunteer firefighters during their Dec. 30 meeting. Randy Hegweld, who identified himself as representing Linn County Emergency Management and Rural Fire, asked the board to approve Dale Hayes as a volunteer firefighter for Station 920 in Pleasanton, pending a pre-employment physical; the commission approved the motion by voice vote.

Hegweld also told commissioners the 2025 budget includes pay increases: "to move the firefighter pay from $30 to $35 a call" and to raise fire officer pay "from $35 to $40 a call," and recommended higher hourly training pay. Commissioners moved to approve the increases and asked county staff to prepare the formal pay resolution for the new year.

A commissioner moved and the board voted in favor of both the hire and the pay adjustments. The personnel hire and pay changes were authorized by voice vote and will be implemented after the clerk includes them in the pay resolution to be adopted at a subsequent meeting.

Next steps: staff will draft and present a formal pay-resolution document for adoption in the new year and will complete pre-employment steps for the volunteer hire.