Mayor Huether seems to be confused tonight at the council meeting about how to stack a pile of firewood
Minnehaha County treasurer Pam Nelson showed up tonight to explain to the city how to mail out proper notice in the mail for a code violation (you know, using a postman and a stamp and not a newspaper bag). Pam got a notice about her firewood stack, but instead of sending a letter to her office or ACTUAL home, they put a letter in a plastic newspaper bag and hung it to her secondary residence. Seems efficient.
Then Bob Kolbe showed up asking how private emergency for-profit services can be cheaper then city owned services. Well, Bob, have you seen the Fire Department salaries (DOC: 2015-Wages-January, Start on page 4)
You had better not be ragging on how much firefighters make.
If you want to compare work time vs. teachers and firefighters-Teachers got the short end of the stick. They work more hours and get paid way less. I myself, would put teachers ahead of firefighters on the pay scale. I know they are funded differently but we can tell where are priorities are at based on this difference. Let’s start looking at some different funding options for our education!
Firefighters work 9-10 days out of the month. Come on!
Maybe you should apply?
AG – Not ragging on it, just verifying Bob’s question, how can a private for-profit emergency provider do a job for less then a publicly (not for profit) emergency provider? Salaries are certainly part of the equation. I have looked at the city’s salary data over the years, and I’m not arguing against paying firefighters well, but when you see some of the wage increases of the higher ups over the past 5 years (in all city departments) you began to scratch your head.
BTW, Bob will be waiting a long time before he gets his answer.
I have and my friends that are already on the force tell me it is like hitting the lottery! They brag about how many days off they get and how much money they make with their fire fighting gig and their second job they can so easily get because of how accessible they are due to their “cushy” schedule. I still feel teachers should be getting paid more than a firefighter who doesn’t need a degree to be on the force.
I have heard the rumor the reason why the fire fighters get paid so well is because their Union Rep/President has the Chief bent over the barrel.
I wouldn’t “rag” on firefighter’s wages either, if pay were equal across the city, but there are nurse managers with master’s degrees making $64,000-$84,000 with years of experience and a new senior manager at the fire department making $100,000 with only a high school diploma?
Why we’re at it, what kind of qualifications does the “facilities manager” have to be making over $90,000 per year. Anyone talk to a city employee that says anything good about the service they get?
l3wis – the chief also promoted the union vice president into a management position last year. I wonder how much that will spike his pension. He can retire at any time, so it makes sense to spend time and $$$ training him.
After all those years in the union telling management what they were doing wrong, I’m sure he was the best choice for the management team.
Way to put the taxpayers and city’s best interests first chief!
Just save $132,000 per year and get rid of the chief and put the union president in charge. There wouldn’t be a difference in how the department is being run.
*cough* *cough* Or so I’ve been told.
I wouldn’t “rag” on firefighter’s wages either, if pay were equal across the city, but there are nurse managers with master’s degrees making $64,000-$84,000 with years of experience and a new senior manager at the fire department making $100,000 with only a high school diploma?
I remember talking to my brother-in-law who was a firefighter for quite some time in SF. I would stop by his station and get a cup of coffee on occasion. The fact of the matter is they did not have much to do most of the time. I told him most of the time they were the most over-paid people in the city. But when that fire bell rang…well they were the most underpaid people in the city. Anyone who is willing to go into a burning building deserves a salary to help compensate for the injuries and risks they are taking. BTW, I wonder if you talk to firefighters, how many of them have injuries they have gotten on the job. As a teacher, I have not had any injuries. Also, “solution”, thanks for thinking us teachers should get more. I would certainly take more, but I knew what teachers made when I chose this career. I have never complained about what I make.
I miss the Argus. Had a habit of coffee and morning paper. Been to Frying Pans for breakfast. No papers in machine. Denny’s & IHOP don’t have machines. Used to look forward to appointments at the VA because paper there. No more. If Shopping News can fill the vacancy, go for it. Their obituaries are certainly a better place to post. Several pages, more detail.
Not my businessay but not profitable without circulation. I’ve become a blog enthusiast but miss the crossword and astrology.
Code enforcement is a laugh. Appeals ordinance takes them out of the picture. People, again, ignore them. They can’t take you to court and have no power without a judge. Oh, they’ll use lots of scare tactics. Think of it as a prank you fell for but listen to the guy preaching the end of the world before acknowlegING them.
Class envy always divides the citizenry
OBG
divide the CITIZENRY
Friggin fatheads
divided we stand
chocolate rations have been increased from
10 to 7 grams.
WTF are you people on?