News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Alpena Fire Department Doug Krueger, left, does some training with Cain Makowski on one of the fire trucks at the station on Monday. The Alpena Municipal Council voted Monday night to increase the starting pay for Alpena’s first responders.

ALPENA — Emergency first responders in Alpena are paid less than some neighboring community fire departments that offer fewer services.

On Monday, the Alpena Municipal Council voted 5-0 to give a $1.53 raise to emergency first responders. The fire chief and deputy chief, who have administrative positions will not receive wage hikes.

The raise for paramedics and for those new to the position at the department, bumps the starting wage to $17.29 an hour, while emergency medical technicians will start at $13.77 an hour.

Chief Bill Forbush said the increased wage will help to maintain current staffing, which is running low, and make firefighter positions in Alpena more attractive to those seeking work.

“Adequate staffing levels allow our staff to respond to emergencies in a timely manner,” Forbush said. “We currently have three openings, and two employees off on medical leave from injuries or illness and anticipate additional retirements in the next couple of years. Our staffing is now at a critical level, especially considering the number of runs we are responding to each day.”

Forbush did a wage comparison to other fire departments that offer less services than Alpena and he said he was surprised by how much lower his employees are compensated by comparison.

Cheboygan, Saint Ignace, and Emmet County all have a starting wage of more than $20 an hour for a paramedic, and municipalities like Otsego County, Alcona County, and Rogers City start paramedics between $18 and $19 an hour.

Starting wages for EMT range from $14.50 to $17.51 in those communities.

“I was shocked to learn that even much smaller services pay significantly better than we do,” Forbush said. “To make things worse, none of the surrounding agencies provide fire suppression, ice and water rescue, extrication, hazardous materials, confined space, high or low angle rope, or other technical rescues. Most aren’t trained and certified for critical care transport as well. All other agencies surveyed are non-fire; therefore, our personnel have far more responsibility and expectations.”

The problem in Alpena is not unique. Fire departments around the country are experiencing staffing shortages. Locally, Alpena Township has been faced with a staffing shortage for more than a year, and is still trying to bring its staffing up to desirable levels.

The township considered hiring the city to handle emergency response last year, but the board of trustees voted down the contract. The township is now on the verge of seeking a millage to rebuild its department.

“There is a critical shortage of paramedics and other public safety personnel nationwide,” Forbush said. “COVID-19, coupled with increased education and accreditation requirements and societal changes, have dramatically reduced the pool of potential applicants for open positions.”

The city’s budget ends on June 30 and Forbush said the raises will cost the city $27,000 to get to the end of the budget year. For the 2022-23 budget year, which begins on July 1, he said it will cost the city $119,000.

Those totals do not include overtime employees may work.

The raises could raise the eyes of other departments in the city who may also want wage hikes for employees. Forbush said a plan is already in place for City Manager Rachel Smolinski and Human Resource Director/Assistant to the City Manager Kathy Himes to do wage comparisons statewide to see if other pay adjustments are needed.