ALPENA – The Alpena Township Fire Department is struggling to hire firefighters to help overcome an employee shortage, Fire Chief Tim Baker told the Alpena Township Board of Trustees on Monday.

Baker updated the trustees in the hiring process and the news wasn’t good.

“Very slow and we have not had many candidates,” Baker said.

The previous search for candidates who met the qualifications resulted in limited results. Baker told the board, while offering an update on potential hires.

“The last hiring group we had two candidates, one did not have their EMS license that is required,” Baker said. “The other met qualifications, however, it was determined he would not be a good fit for the program.”

Baker is hopeful that previously hired candidates, Wyatt Smith and Gavin Plume, will complete the required training while working in a limited role as paid-on-call members of the department.

“We will keep them as paid-on-call status, schedule them shifts, and pay them the paid-on-call rate while they work with others to complete training,” Baker said. “Once they are up to speed for operational status, and they get their licenses, there will be some additional training.”

The lack of staffing nearly forced the township to institute a brown out, which is a temporary, scheduled closing of a specific fire station or the taking of a fire apparatus, like an engine or ladder truck, out of service for a period of time.

Luckily, the brown out wasn’t needed, but if the staffing shortage continues or worsens, it may be needed down the road.

Baker explained how the department avoided the temporary closure.

Trustee Norm Poli asked Baker how many firemen the township was short as of the meeting.

“Currently, we have four full-time staff, so we are short two full-time firefighters,” Baker said.

Shift coverage has been a concern for several months due to resignations and individuals accepting other positions. Baker explained what the department has been doing to cover as many shifts as possible.

“We are covering with the four full-time individuals and there are also four paid-on-call members working shift coverage,” Baker explained. “That, and the fact I have been covering shifts as well, has allowed us to cover every shift so far.”

Baker explained what would have happened if the brownout was enforced.

“The brownout was not to close the station, it just would not be staffed, responders would come from home to respond, and the other township station would respond as well,” Baker said.

At one point in the meeting, trustee Cash Kroll asked Baker, what the future looks like for the department over the next several months.

“I reached out to one of the other individuals that have issues with their EMS license and they are going through the process with the state to get that reestablished,” Baker said. “Another individual was sick so he could not make it, we are trying to get that rescheduled.”

There is a potential for a brownout in March, because of that, the board discussed what the best route is moving forward if a need for brown outs rises.

Alpena Township Supervisor Abbi Kaszubowski presented the trustees option for that scenario.

“In March, we are looking at several open shifts. It’s at the board’s discretion to shut down partially, temporarily or completely,” Kaszubowski said.

The brownout, partial or otherwise, would be in lieu of Baker covering those shifts. Because Baker has been covering shifts, the board decided to proceed like they have been.

“There are two dates that are still open with no one signed up for coverage,” Baker said. “By the second week in March, if there is still no one signing up, then all avenues will be considered before a brownout would be allowed to occur.”

There is a fire department millage vote coming up in August that will be critical for department operations. Treasurer Laura Ellery-Somers explained how important that vote will be for the department.

“We went for a millage the last two times and it has not passed. The people need to see that we need millage money to help run our fire department,” Ellery-Somers said. “We need money to pay these guys, and to bring in new people we need competitive salaries.”

Trustee Russ Rhynard then asked Baker why there are so few candidates and if the current pay scale was higher would it help?

“If the pay scale was higher and you were not working by yourself. I think that would make a big impact,” Baker said.

Ellery-Somers then added.

“We have been running on a shoestring budget since I have been here, ” she said.