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Walkerville firefighters at the scene of a recent fire.
Firefighters to stay on the job as budget passes.
#OceanaCountyNews #Walkerville
By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
WALKERVILLE — Firefighters had planned to “walk off the job” Thursday, April 27, if township and village officials did not approve a budget for their department. However, officials agreed upon a budget – with cuts, and the firefighters will stay on the job.
There has been a months-long controversy surrounding the Walkerville Fire Department budget, and firefighters had become so fed up with the situation that they threatened to quit.
Phone messages left by OCP this week for several officials were not returned. However, Walkerville firefighter Leonard Amador confirmed that the budget has passed.
The budget was passed by the fire board Saturday, April 22, during a meeting at the Elbridge Township Hall, Amador said. It took two tries, but the budget passed on the second vote, he said.
Fire Department Administrator Jerry Frick’s pay was slashed from $7,000 annually to $3,000, Amador said. Weekend standby funds also took a large hit from $10,000 to $4,000, he said.
Firefighters threatened to quit, because they had no money remaining in their budget in order to operate. Residents living within the 130-square-mile area that the fire department serves were in jeopardy of losing fire protection.
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