North Liberty Fire Department wants to increase staffing levels

NORTH LIBERTY — The North Liberty Fire Department is looking to add two full-time firefighters, less than a year after adding its first full-time firefighter, to provide adequate staffing for the city’s only fire station.

The staffing proposal is meant to get the department closer to its goal of having a three-person crew ready to respond to calls for service 24/7.

The department currently has four operational full-timers — those who run calls — with one firefighter and three lieutenants. The fire department also has three administrative officers in the fire chief, fire marshal and training officer.

The department has 18 part-time firefighters and a little more than 20 “pay per call” members who carry a pager and help to staff the other shifts.

“We have great part-timers, great pay per call, but obviously we're not their priority in their life,” North Liberty Fire Chief Brian Platz told the city council on Tuesday. “They have full time jobs, they have families, so their availability isn't always that great. … in order to realize 24/7 with three people, we're asking them to staff 23 12-hour shifts per week. … that's very difficult.”

Platz said in the last six months there were anywhere from eight to 18 shifts per month that went unfilled. The department has received more than 1,500 calls for service each of the past two years.

The personnel request must be approved by the city council as part of its fiscal year 2027 budget process. The city must submit the budget to the county auditor’s office in April.

Renovated station hopes to attract more staff

North Liberty is looking to either demolish the current station and rebuild new, or renovate and expand the existing station, a project estimated to cost upward of $18 million.

Last year, the city council approved an agreement to spend $270,000 to buy a piece of property directly behind the existing fire station, at 25 W. Cherry St., to allow for station expansion.

North Liberty voters approved a 1 percent local-option sales tax in November that is set to go into effect July 1. A portion of the revenue will be put toward the fire station renovation. The city council has not made any decisions on a new fire station beyond funding for initial architectural fees.

Platz told the council he is hopeful a renovated station will help alleviate some of the staffing concerns.

“I know that other departments have anecdotally indicated to us that once they open the door to their new fire station, they have three or four people knock on the door the next month wanting to join,” Platz said.

Comments: megan.woolard@thegazette.com

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