by Mary Rupert
With firefighters carrying signs tonight in front of City Hall, Mayor Mark Holland called a news conference on the 9th floor of City Hall to tell his side of the story.
Holland, while complimenting the firefighters as “the best in the world,” also called the firefighters’ protest “a display of political theater.” He said firefighters’ leaders were stirring up fear before the Nov. 7 mayoral election.
Both sides referenced a task force that is working on issues and recommendations in a 2015 fire study.
“Given the process that is under way, and given that the union is participating in that process, it is disingenuous and irresponsible of the union to draw conclusions about how we as a community move forward with strengthening our fire coverage,” Holland said. “I am especially disappointed that they have chosen to do this before the task force’s report is completed, and to do so less than two weeks before the election.”
But the firefighters said they were responding to recent statements made by the mayor at candidate forums.
At the heart of the issue are the possible reductions in fire companies, and the possible loss of positions.
A 2015 study looked at the issues and made several recommendations. A task force was appointed to study issues and will make a recommendation before the end of the year, according to the mayor.
The 2015 study, for example, recommended combining some fire stations that were close to each other, such as in Fairfax and the northeast area, and building other new stations, such as one in Piper. There were also possible cuts in personnel to the Rosedale area, including the University of Kansas Hospital area, in the study.
The UG phrased the fire station changes differently: “No proposals call for the closing of fire stations,” the UG stated in a fact sheet. “However, it is likely older, outdated stations will be replaced with new, modern fire stations in different locations.”
“We’re 18 people down,” said Bob Wing, the business manager for the International Association of Firefighters, Local 64. These positions were formerly funded by a grant, and the positions were eliminated. It is not a layoff, but the grant money was let go by not reapplying for it, according to Wing. There were three positions added, and the UG stated 16 positions had been eliminated by the grant.
There were some plans to close and consolidate some stations in the 2015 study, build new stations and reduce some companies, according to firefighters. Wing said he is concerned about the time it will take to respond to emergencies. Holland said the goal is still to keep response time to a standard of 4 minutes.
“Let the committee do their work, that was agreed to, let us complete our task, take it to the commissioners, what was agreed to, and let them make a decision based on what we come up with,” Wing said.
But the mayor making public statements at forums undermines the committee’s work, Wing said. If the mayor hadn’t made statements at the forums, the firefighters wouldn’t be standing there, he said. Wing said the firefighters’ protest was not political.
Wing said he wants to be able to assure his family, coworkers and residents that they have the safest place they can have.
“If we’re being slighted, then the community’s being slighted,” he said. “We’re all paying for the service we’re not getting.”
Wing added that the citizen survey conducted by the UG ranks public safety – police, fire and sheriff – as the top priorities of the residents.
The firefighters’ union has endorsed mayoral candidate David Alvey, who marched with the firefighters. The signs read, “The city’s burning us now. Are you next?”
Alvey said at the rally that it was a sad state of affairs that the first responders have to hold a protest in order to get their message across to the mayor and the community.
“He alienates the very people who are charged with our protection,” Alvey said. “That’s not good leadership.”
When Alvey was asked about the mayor’s statement that this protest was all political, he said, “He’s entitled to his opinion.”
Commissioner Mike Kane, who is running for re-election, last week announced the location of the new Piper fire station would be at Leavenworth Road and Hutton Road, on the west side of the city. That station is being worked on ahead of some other changes that could take place as a result of the fire study.
To see some past stories about the fire study and other issues, visit
https://wyandotteonline.com/firefighters-upset-about-getting-silent-treatment-at-ug-fire-study-meeting/
https://wyandotteonline.com/fire-study-calls-for-5-percent-cutback-in-personnel-consolidation-of-four-stations-and-more-funding-for-facilities-and-equipment/
https://wyandotteonline.com/new-fire-station-in-piper-receives-budget-approval/
Mayor Mark Holland’s statement today:
Mark Holland, Mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, issued the following statement today in response to false claims made by the city’s Fire Union leadership (please see attached letter referred to in the Mayor’s statement):
Kansas City, Kansas, has the best firefighters in the world. They’re putting their lives on the line every day and they deserve our support and every effort we can make to keep them safe, just as they do everything they can to keep our community safe.
This is why I pledged in 2014 to conduct a comprehensive study of each public safety department: Police, Fire, and Sheriff. These 3 departments are our top priority and represent 60% of the Unified Government’s general fund budget. The fire study is a collaborative effort between the union, the command staff, the administration, and elected officials. The union helped select the team, has participated at every point in the process, and has signed off on the completed study. I have a copy of the letter for everyone here.
The protest organized today by Fire Union leadership is a display of political theater. The Union’s leadership has made false claims about the Unified Government’s process in order to stir up fear ahead of the Nov. 7 Mayoral Election.
This surprises me because the Union is actively participating in a task force that includes Fire Command staff and UG administration. This task force is charged with determining how best to realign our fire coverage in response to shifting population densities that have occurred over the last several decades.
Its recommendations are scheduled to come before the Unified Board of Commissioners at the end of the year. At that point will we begin a thorough and transparent public discussion about the best path forward for fire coverage in our community.
One pressing need that arose before that report could be completed was a fire station in the Piper neighborhood, at Hutton Road and Leavenworth Road, where population has surged. The station is scheduled to be completed next year.
Given the process that is under way, and given that the union is participating in that process, it is disingenuous and irresponsible of the union to draw conclusions about how we as a community move forward with strengthening our fire coverage. I am especially disappointed that they have chosen to do this before the task force’s report is completed, and to do so less than two weeks before the election. Their claims are false, and they are purely political, and appear to be made in an effort to protect outdated policies. I am committed to best practice standards that support both our firefighters and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
When the election is over, I look forward to putting this political theater behind us and getting to work on what really matters: giving our community the best fire coverage possible.
