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A joint work session meeting was held at Corsicana City Hall on Monday night to address the issues with the staffing shortages in the Corsicana Fire Department.
Allie Hocutt, Director of Human Services and Civil Service, gave different explanations detailing the situation the Corsicana Fire Rescue Department is in, according to the staffing issues.
The City of Corsicana adopted the Civil Service agreement on April 4, 1966 after a city wide election. More than 50 years later, the same process still applies, including a rule that stipulates at no time can an applicant have used the drug, Cocaine. Hocutt and other members of the Civil Service Committee believe that rule should be amended.
The suggested amendment according to Hocutt, would state, “No applicant can have used cocaine after the age of 21 or 5 years prior to applying to take the Civil Service exam.”
The process of the civil service at minimum lasts at least one month – testing, background and credit checks, polygraph testing, and including psychological and medical exams.
City council members further discussed applying hiring incentives from $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 depending on the certification levels. CFR Captain Justin Underwood stated, “What about those guys who are already here working their tails off?”
Underwood stated, “I think today is the day we decide who is gonna help us run EMS. I believe we are the best service in the City and the county, but we need help.”
Commissioner James Olsen stated, “I think the public may have some questions and comments.” City Manager Connie Standridge without a response to Commissioner Olsen’s statement continued on with her agenda regarding the next steps with Allegiance, stating “James, we are going to move on to the next step.” According to city leaders, the consensus is that the EMS is proposed to be run through Allegiance Mobile Health. The new contract with Allegiance will have Allegiance staff utilizing CFR Ambulances and stations, as well as dispatch services.
Make your voices heard to Corsicana City leaders at the next council meeting on Monday, November 8th at 6:00 PM.
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