As a resident of Edgerton, and someone who has grown up with parents that are very involved with a Volunteer FD in WI, I would like to say a few things. First, I have seen first hand how an all Volunteer FD works. The reason it's called Volunteer is because the people who are there want to do it because they want to help their community, not make some sort of gain. It is a lot of work and it does require a fairly large amount of time but those in it for the right reason are happy to do it. Where I grew up both EMS & Fire were in the same building under the same authority. They have the same amount of members as Edgerton and seem to be able to handle everything themselves. There isn't any thought of needing Full-time Driver/Dispatchers.
Second, please stop referring to the 3 as Firefighters. They are Driver/Dispatchers. In this state you are required to take a class in order to receive your Firefighter Certification. Without even the "Live Burn Practice" you would not be allowed into a burning building. The 3 do not have this certification. Finally, with The 911 Center, the need for people to answer phones is eliminated.
Finally, I belive that the city is best served with an All-Volunteer FD. They've been doing a fantastic job these last 4 years. The station was always clean, the trucks in great shape, and the city well protected. Keep up the good work.

As a EFD member I feel obligated to step in and set a few things straight here. I truly believe everyone is titled to their opinions, however, they should be well informed before stating them. I have seen numerous positive and negative comments on issues here at the FD. The fact is no matter what, our towns volunteers and full-time staff WILL work together in a positive manner and perform the duties of public service as needed. There is not a hostile work enviroment at the station as many misinformed people think. We have moved forward over the last four years and we will continue to do so in the future.
Also, for everyones information, the Edgerton Fire District oversees the fire department. The city has not done this since 1991. Monthly meeting are held the first Thursday of each month at the fire station. Instead of casting anonymous stones, come to the meetings and voice your concerns and opinions.

maybe the clue game should be sent to the city , since they continued to pursue something that has now cost the taxpayers money ,both in wages and attorney fees, and have nothing to show for it ,

Pumpkin, 021012,
Thank you...etown always seems to have a comment w/o any information. Will someone send etown a board game for xmas, "clue" would be my suggestion.

I too would like to see a story about how well the department has run w/o the fulltime guys, and how well it has run w/o their chief. Kudos to these men who have continued to stay the course for the residents.

What is this? A sewing circle? The law of the land spoke, Y'all need to get over it. I remember way back when this all started, all the support this town had for these men. There were signs in almost every yard. I think the majority of this town supports these men than a few of you whiners! Peace

Very well said 021012!

Earth to etown, you seem to think that these men were paid for being firemen. That is incorrect. They were paid to be driver\dispatchers. This means that they were paid to drive the trucks to be maintained and filled with gas. When they were driving to fires, they were operating as a volunteer. They were not paid to be trained previously. They were trained as a volunteer, but never took the time to get certified. If they wanted to be firefighters, they would have kept up there own training with the volunteers for the past 4 years. If you want to start paying firefighters, there are more than 30 trained firefighters that should be first in line. What is that going to do to the budget?!

etown, I have a hard time believing you really live in Edgerton....you need to get a clue. The greenhouse employees water the hanging baskets not the city workers...ha!

Fulton is not most people. As the comments below said, 90% of fire stations nationwide run on an ALL VOLUNTEER staff. Why should Edgerton be any different then the vast majority? Your comment about the 3 not being trained because their jobs were taken away is laughable. The men DON'T PARTICIPATE in training - that is why they have no training. The 3 have been with the station for many many years, so they've had plenty of time to aquire the necesary classes and training. They chose not to be a part of the training - no one can force them to get it. If your house were on fire would you want someone who doesn't even know how to operate the truck trying to put it out?

they had fulton township residents vote and they voted to stop trying to take their jobs away and settle this along time ago how many more people do you need to figure out most people support the firefighters that were wrongfully removed? is it fair to depend on volunteers to do the work the city should be paying to have done? if thats the case then why is the mayor taking money, why doesnt he just volunteer his services? the reason these 3 are not trained to go on fire calls is because the city took their jobs away and they didnt get the training , so now its the cities job to make sure they get the training they need to make these fire calls, we can afford to pay city workers to go around all summer and water plants hung from every light post down town but we cant afford someone at the fire station for public safety, if the volunteers need more to do now that the 3 are back let them water the plants shovel city sidewalks, mow the city property, they could put the water bills in the envelopes,work the concession stand at the park and the pool why arent they using volunteers to do these jobs to save money? because then you would have other city employees complaining they are taking money out of their pockets,

You have got to be kidding an unbiased opinion from mister uaw aka. John Dohner Jr. Why didn't you look for other volunteers instead of just a phone call. Good Research Gazette

Crabbyclyde- Yea your right, Edgerton is Safer knowing that the 3 full time guys can dust and answer the phone! Get a clue McFly!!

I support the decisions that the fire district board has made and hope that they aren't regretting any past decisions. They were trying to do save the tax payers money without reducing safety. The money they spent in legal fees is justified by what the potential savings in wages would have been. That money could have gone towards equipment, training, or other improvements for the volunteers.
And why the pointed attacks on Chairman Linsley. His vote doesn't even count unless there is a tie by the other 5 board members. Hmmm, a tie by the other 5 board members - seems he's not even making the decisions. But I believe that he is making the right suggestions.
And shame on the Gazette for choosing John Dohner Jr as their volunteer to interview. His union affiliation at GM makes him an unbiased participant. Try to find another volunteer with the same opinion - it will be a difficult task. The split is not 50-50 as he states. The majority of the volunteers are proud of the job that they have been doing, as they well should be.

Congrats to the firefighters on their return to their jobs. It was nice to see the courts finally confirmed the rights of workers to belong to a union. I wish you well. Edgerton is safer with you all back on the job.

"Although the district classifies the employees’ jobs as “drivers/dispatchers,” they currently are not allowed to drive the trucks, operate the pumps or fight fires alongside the volunteers because their training isn’t up to date."

So what can they do for the community then? I just about fell off my chair laughing when I saw the picture of someone "dusting" a firetruck. This is what we're going to be paying them for?

"But several volunteers said this week they’re happy the employees are back. They think the employees will take some of the burden off the volunteers, especially if they can eventually respond to calls, they said."

If it's such a "burden" to maintain the equipment you use then maybe your not in it for the right reasons. These comments can only be made by volunteers that don't like to work or show up that often.

“Since those guys left, they have pushed more and more and more of the duties onto the volunteers, where it ends up more like a full-time job than a volunteer-type basis,” said John Dohner Jr., who has volunteered with the district since 1993.

Uh isn't that all a part of volunteering. If you feel that it's too much work then maybe this isn't the place for you. I'm sorry but I don't see making coffee, starting trucks and cleaning out lockers so much more "helpful" for the firefighters.

Wake up and smell the "coffee" people.

It seems strange the the other person continues to complain about this, but has no idea what they are talking about. The fire service nationwide is about 90% Volunteer. Sun Prairie WI is all Volunteer. The jobs were nothing more than cleaning, and call taking before they were let go. Nothing has changed. They are not QUALIFIED to be on a fire scene. This is by STATE of WISCONSIN LAW. This also means they are not firefighters. The EFD has operated with better response time since 'the 3' have been gone. The biggest waste of the taxpayers money is for paying for these positions that are not necessary. The legal costs do not amount to even 1 years wages!! As for the Gazette printing anything in favor of the EFD, I would like to see it. It all has been biased towards the 3 since the beginning. Just ask the Gazette about the article they wouldn't do once they found out that the Volunteer response times equaled or were better then with the 3. I believe it was stated best in an another article, with this cloud hanging over the EFD how can they move forward. Now that the negotations will start, they can agree to dislove the positions, and the volunteers can finally move past this position that they have been caught in.

a glorified cleaning crew how sad.....look at the picture of the guy cleaning the fire truck...he is in no shape to be in firefighting. If they dont have the certifications they are required to preform the duties they should not be there period. Get rid of them and hire some people that can do the job....its sad they play the union card....just a place for them to hide behind laziness and the lack of education to do the job

I would like to read an article where each and every fire board member is interviewed. How do they now feel towards their decision to fire the 3 firefighters and then to lose each and every appeal? Are they angry with their legal counsel for duping them and costing so much? Any regrets in what seems to have split the "volunteers" and the full-timers? Are any of them considering resigning? What are the fire baord members paid, if anything, and what does the chairman get paid? Will they keep the chairman, Linsley, on the board and as their chairman? What about the other communities that comprise the fire district, are any of them asking for resignations of their board members?

Seems like the only guy willing to speak-up is this Asst. Chief Beckwith, and he is quite hostile. And if the only thing the 3 full-timers are doing is serving as a glorified mantainence crew, then perhaps he should be mad. Maybe the Gazette needs an article on the broader issue of volunteer fire departments. Given property values, and public safety issues, are they an ancient structure that should be in historty books?