Union pitches fire tax idea

The union president for local firefighters painted a pretty bleak picture of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department -- antiquated buildings, not enough manpower, old equipment and cramped quarters.

"We're using '50s technology living in the 21st century," said Capt. Charlie Brawley, president of Local 1084. "It seems like our department is moving backward instead of forward."

Brawley spoke to the Cape Girardeau City Council at its meeting Monday night. He said the union suggests increasing the city's sales tax by 1/4 percent. That would generate $1.75 million a year and $8.75 million over a five-year period to improve the department.

"It could help save this city," Brawley said.

During a power point presentation, Brawley said that Fire Station 3 on Emerald Street across from the Show Me Center is too small for some equipment and is in need of major renovation.

"That building has lots of problems," he said. "It's been used for 24 hours a day for 51 years. That takes a toll."

He also said there are no women's facilities in the building and it has cramped quarters and limited locker space and needs new electrical systems.

A ladder truck is in need of refurbishment, he said, and would take $150,000 to extend its life. Some of the fire trucks have maintenance problems and body rust.

Ladder truck 2 and Engine 2 were out of service 30 times in the year 2000. They also need some new fire trucks, like one that costs $500,000. Reserve trucks are also very old and in poor condition, he said.

Manpower is also a problem, he said. He recommended hiring 15 firefighters in phases, which would roughly cost $500,000 a year.

"We feel like now is the time to do something with this fire tax," Brawley said.

Tax increase

Fire Chief Michael Lackman said he has not had adequate time to fully assess department needs in the six weeks he has been here.

"The fire department has equipment needs, there's no question about that," Lackman said. "But to specifically address everything? I haven't had time to do that yet."

The city's sales tax rate is at 6.725 percent. City manager Michael Miller said he is looking at some sort of tax package for next year that would generate funds for all the departments.

"Rather than just looking at the fire department, we have to look at the big picture," Miller said. "The fire department is just a piece of the puzzle."

Miller has a team in place looking at department needs and what the best way to fund those are, he said.

"We have to do our homework first and see what the needs are," Miller said.

Mayor Al Spradling III was wearing a Jackson High School Indians T-shirt because he lost a bet with Jackson Mayor Paul Sander over the recent football game.

He said that a tax increase will have to be proposed next year for needs citywide.

"Yes, the fire department has needs, but so do a lot of departments," Spradling said. "But we're going to have to look at some sort of increase because that's the only way to fund these things. There's no real growth in the current sales tax, so that's something we'll have to look at."

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