Eldridge to bring firefighters back for discussion before final vote on merger

The Eldridge City Council took the latest step to turn the current volunteer fire department into a city agency. Aldermen approved the plan on second reading at a special city council meeting Wednesday night.

All 20 volunteer firefighters threatened to quit on Oct. 1 if it happens. However, there could be a compromise to keep the volunteers on board.

City staff members say that, after the fire department sent a letter of intent for all volunteers to quit, they ran out of options.

“Do I like the fact that we had to decide at that meeting? No,” said Alderman Ryan Iossi. “Do I like the October 1 deadline? No. Is it enough time? No.”

The meeting room was packed with people. Public comment last about an hour. When one person asked for a show of hands as to who opposes the city’s idea, most people in the room did.

City leaders say there’s liability in keeping a department made entirely of volunteers. Two aldermen voted no to the absorption of the department by the city and to hiring a new fire chief.

“I still intend to vote no on both of these, because we have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers,” said Alderman Brian Dockery during the meeting. “And passing both of these ordinances is going to put us obligated into an expense that we have no idea what it is.”

After nearly two hours of discussion, city staff agreed to bring the fire department back to the table for discussion. Two aldermen, two firefighters and one member of the public unaffiliated with either, to discuss in a private meeting how best to compromise.

“If we can make a meaningful start, I think the department would be willing to move that date,” said Dave Engler, assistant fire chief for the department.

Engler says he has a good relationship with members of the council and is willing to meet as early as this weekend to discuss further steps.

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