Dayton has to decide whether to seek federal grant to hire more firefighters

DAYTON — The city of Dayton has until Wednesday evening to seek a federal grant that would give the fire department millions of dollars.

However, it would also cost the city money during a difficult time in the city’s economy.

A recent change in the city’s charter allows it to apply for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant from FEMA. The charter change happened before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“None of us saw the COVID emergency coming around the corner when we were working so hard in October to make that happen,” City Manager Shelley Dickstein said Tuesday night.

Dayton Firefighters Local 136, the union representing the Dayton Fire Department’s members, wants the city to apply.

“We’re trying to maintain a level of service Dayton citizens are used to and deserve,” said Kraig Robinson, Dayton Firefighters Local 136.

Robinson said the $3 million over three years would allow the department to hire 12 additional firefighters to staff a fire engine that right now is out of use.

“It’s good for the community,” Robinson said.

To get the grant, Robinson and Dickstein said the city would be required to increase the department’s budget.

“We would be putting the fire department in a growth mode while all the other departments are cutting,” Dickstein said.

She said accepting the grant would mean a $1.2 million investment over three years.

“Black and white, when you look at it, of course we want to apply and get this free federal money, but there are really some limitations for the city of Dayton,” Fire Chief Jeff Lykins said.

Robinson said the cost to the city would be about $400,000 over that same time period.

He noted that if the city gets the federal funding, it would not be allowed to cut department positions.

Dickstein said she is thinking about the entire city.

“We have to make a decision, not only what’s good for the fire department and our community, but for the entire organization,” she said.

Robinson just wants the city to submit the application.

“We get 100 percent no if we don’t apply,” Robinson said.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Wednesday.

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