LETTER: Give Newburg FD a chance to improve Saukville town pact

To Ozaukee Press:

As a taxpayer in the Town of Saukville, I have to admit, I am confused after reading about the fire service contract in last week’s Ozaukee Press.

To be fair, I am a 30-year member of the Fredonia Fire Department and have been an assistant chief for over 10 years. I get the Town of Saukville’s frustration with the Newburg Fire Department. The lack of communication from them is annoying at best.

It was finally stated that the contract hasn’t changed in years, that a cost of living adjustment was made with each contract. I do believe that, but that should have been stated months ago.         The township says, “We’re out hundreds of thousands of dollars over the decades.” Isn’t the Town Board at least partially (50%) responsible for that? Did they sign that contract for decades and never look at it?

I agree that it appears that the township is paying proportionally more than other municipalities. But have we cherry-picked the formula that works best for the township? What do the other formulas show? Maybe not as bad as the town is claiming.

Seems like town officials have made up their minds, and have been discussing a contract change with the Village of Saukville Fire Department. Have we included other departments? Waubeka and Fredonia provide both fire and EMS service and Port Washington already provides paramedic intercept service to the town.

Instead, we’ve talked to the one department that might gain from this contract change. Is the Grafton fire chief, who is acting as the Saukville fire chief, acting in the best interest of the town?

Why do we need to invest in 20% of a paramedic? To increase Grafton’s paramedic program? Has the Grafton FD changed its attitude and will run paramedic intercept? Or will they only send a full paramedic ambulance and take those patients away from on scene ambulance services? Is that in the patient’s best interest?

The Newburg FD has offered a one-year contract at a reduced rate to properly re-evaluate the contract. The only thing worse that a government that does nothing is one that acts in haste. I would strongly suggest that we sign that contract and continue to work with Newburg. If they choose to drag their feet, we have all next year to cut ties.

Chris Kunstmann
Fredonia