Along with hiring a new chief financial officer Tuesday night, the Columbus City Council also hired several new employees to fill various spots within Columbus Fire and Rescue and the public works department.
Four entry-level firemen were hired by the city at the recommendation of fire chief Ken Moore.
“These four positions are to fill positions vacated by people retiring or leaving the department,” Moore said. “My normal number of shift workers is 66. This will bring us up to 59, so we are still not fully-staffed.”
According to the city’s chief operations officer, David Armstrong, the positions were budgeted by the city in the Fiscal Year 2013 budget. Human Resource director Pat Mitchell said entry-level firemen make $9.86 an hour but they work 24 hours on and 48 hours off.
“The new hires are having their physicals and drug testing done,” Moore said. “I expect them to be working for the department in about three weeks.”
The council also voted unanimously to hire additional personnel for the public works department. Three general laborers were hired at a rate of $8.80 an hour. Two truck drivers were hired at a rate of $10.11 an hour, and a concrete finisher was hired at a rate of $11.33. Mitchell said all of the new hires are full-time positions and the new employees will receive full benefits, including insurance.
The public works department is responsible for maintaining grass in all six of the city’s wards as well on the city’s rights of way, entrances and other areas, public works director Mike Pratt said.
Pratt requested the additional hires in July 2012.
The city’s new CFO, Milton Rawle, was also hired Tuesday night, replacing Mike Bernsen, who left Dec. 31. Rawle’s salary will be $71,000 a year.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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