Fire chief may become a full-time position

The city needs a full-time chief for the Volunteer Fire Department, suggested council member Steve Guthrie during the April 16 meeting of the City Council.

Guthrie opened discussion about the subject by saying Fire Chief Frank Rizzio plans to retire in November.

“I’d like to see our chief at (the city council meetings) - the other department heads are here and at (the Planning Commission); it’s important to have him there,” Guthrie said.

He noted that agreeing to making it a full-time position will eliminate a lot of people “who think they want the job.”

Guthrie noted that with pay of only $250 a year, he understands why Rizzio doesn’t attend the meetings.

Mayor Jackie Crabtree said that if the position becomes full-time, it will no longer be a position filled by an election of the firefighters.

“If it comes to that, it’ll be hired by me,” Crabtreesaid.

Guthrie noted that with Rizzio’s retirement certain, he “doesn’t want (the firefighters) thinking it’s going to be the same thing it’s always been.”

On Friday, Rizzio explained that if nothing changes, sometime in late summer or early fall, the firefighters will elect the new chief.

But Rizzio believes that the position needs to be full-time.

“I’m putting in 25 to 30 hours a week for no money,” he said. “It’s become a lot more complicated dealing with situations developing, staffing the station, and state Health Department regulations and documentation and programs, and just the general administration of the department.”

Upgrading the ambulance service from a basic-life-support service to advanced-life-support will add work to the chief’s job description.

“A credentialed, full-time chief - get the criteria set and get someone who can work a day shift and do the administration work, and be in contact with what’s going on at City Hall - is what Pea Ridge needs,” Rizzio said.

During the April 16 meeting, Guthrie said it might be possible to “squeeze out a few more years” with a part-time chief, but that’s not his preference.

Crabtree said that with the county planning on paying for ambulance calls outside city limits, there may be enough money available to fund the fulltime post.