Fire chief urges overtime spending to maintain coverage as department runs short on personnel

Sedalia’s fire chief told City Council on May 18 that the fire department is operating short four suppression personnel — roughly 10% of the suppression staff — and that the shortage could grow to nearly 15% by July due to pending departures.

The chief said the department has averaged about $16,000 per month in overtime over the last five months (about $192,000 annually) and argued that spending on overtime is preferable to closing an apparatus because shutting a truck down would create cascading changes to operating procedures and reduce emergency response capabilities. He also said that hiring and training new personnel would take 16–24 months before they could assume the more senior roles that currently generate much of the overtime.

Bradley Burton, representing Sedalia Professional Firefighters Local 103, said overtime has risen because the department is understaffed and cautioned that reducing frontline apparatus would degrade public safety as call volume has increased 36% since 2020. Burton noted savings from unfilled positions should be included in any cost calculation and urged promotion and hiring to reduce long-term overtime costs.

Council and the chief discussed options including incentives for personnel to accept promoted roles, union negotiations tied to the upcoming contract, and inviting firefighters to provide written suggestions for solutions. Council members signaled interest in continuing the conversation at the public safety committee and asked staff and union representatives to propose actionable measures.

What happens next: The chief will continue recruitment and promotion processes; council requested firefighter input and plans to discuss options at an upcoming public safety meeting before deciding whether to reduce apparatus or adjust staffing approaches.