DFD, DPD signing bonuses approved

Sign-on bonuses and employee referral benefits for the city’s police and fire departments got whole-hearted approval from the Demopolis City Council Thursday, but at least one councilman said the bonuses will not get to the root of the problem of retaining trained first responders.

The Council approved a $5,000 sign-on bonus for Certified Police Officers and Firefighters and a $1,000 bonus to a city employee who refers a certified officer or firefighter who hires on with the city.

Recently two firefighters whose training had been paid for by the city left for Tuscaloosa. The Tuscaloosa department reimbursed Demopolis $17,000 for the remaining time on the officers’ two-year contracts, but it leaves this city without a full complement of officers.

Police Chief Rex Flowers said it costs the city $25,442.24 for training for each recruit. For firefighters, the total cost of training per recruit is $27,101.09.

In his written proposal to the Council, Flowers said the city could save between $19,442.24 and $22.101.09 per recruit.

“This money is within our current budgets and currently being used in salaries and training,” he wrote. “There would be no extra cost impact to the city.”

He added that the Employee Referral Program would be an incentive for city employees to let others know about the departments.

Charles Jones Jr. said the bonuses will help, but they will not address the reason for first responders leaving for other departments.

“We need to take a look at the pay structure,” he said.

Mayor Woody Collins agreed and promised salaries will be a main focus during budget hearings for 2021-2022. “We’re going to work on this budget. We’re going to work on it hard.”

In a companion vote, the council approved putting the $17,000 reimbursement from Tuscaloosa back into the Fire Department budget for training.

In its only other business, the Council passed a resolution to place a lien on the former Plaza Motel property in order to spend $2,316 to remove a dilapidated sign.