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Falls City Council Approves Union Contracts and Fire Department Leadership

By John Nixon

12/17/2013

(KLZA) What was described as a long process came to a close Monday night when Falls City Council members voted unanimously to approve recommendations from the negotiating committees with the IBEW Union and CWA Union which represents the City employees to approve a new three year agreement. City Administrator Gary Jorn noted the new agreement calls for a 2.5 percent pay raise for employees each year of the agreement.

For the second time this month the Council was asked to approve the recommendation from the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department to appoint the Fire Chiefs for the Department. The recommendation was again for Ken Simpson as Chief and Jon McQueen as First Assistant Chief. This time the department recommended Jim Liming be appointed as Second Assistant Chief for 2014. Mayor Tim Hersh asked Simpson about some problems he had heard about concerning the appointment of Liming. Chief Simpson said there was a problem earlier this year when Liming did not get along with members of the Falls City Rural Fire Department, going so far as to say Liming overstepped his bounds at that particular fire.

At the December 2nd meeting the Council took no action when the recommendation was to appoint John White as Second Assistant Chief replacing Matt Beer in that position.

Council members and Chief Simpson agreed they want no friction between the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department and the Falls City Rural Fire Department.

The recommendations are made following a vote of the Volunteer Firemen. During the discussion it was suggested the Fire Department revisit their by-laws to change the way the positions of First and Second Assistant Chief are selected.

Following the discussion, Council members voted 5-3 to approve the recommendation. Council members Steve Scholl, Judy Murphy and Angie Nolte cast nay votes.

The Council also approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Tim Hersh to execute the Housing Rehabilitation Management Services Contract for $25,000 and the Lead Paint Hazard Clearance Examination contract for $15,000 between the City and Southeast Nebraska Development District.

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