Posted by chazz (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I about fell in the floor when I read this part :"
Also added to the “Memorandum of Understanding” between the city and the FOP is a new firearms proficiency incentive that allows officers a once-a-year $300 bonus should they successfully complete the department’s firearms qualifications."
Are you telling me the IPD does not require their officers to qualify with firearms. Even Podunk PD requires that.
OK, we're gonna send you out in the city with a gun, and, if you can hit the side of a barn with it we will give you a bonus.
Even Barney Fife could shoot.
Better make these guys keep their bullets in their shirt pockets.
I have a better bonus idea. If you can pass the firearms qualification you get to keep your job.

Posted by MasterChef (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I thought everybody got the message. Tax and Fees are down due to the economy. Don't expect a raise. Maybe, just MAYBE, your department won't be stricken with layoffs.

Instead, its business as usual. Raises all around and bonuses, too. Oh, I forgot, they're incentives to just do their job.

Posted by hustlinhillbilly (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's a way to hide a raise. It's required by State Mandate that each Officer qualify yearly. If they can't qualify, they can't carry a firearm. By putting it as a yearly incentive, it's not counted as a raise.

Posted by 4victims (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Being a police officer you should be able to shoot and qualify every year. But why would we expect IPD to change anyting in that department. That department still operates under the 1960's way of thinking.

Posted by hustlinhillbilly (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They have to pass a State approved course of fire every year, they have absolutely no leeway in that regard.

Now, the department can have their own course of fire, in addition to the State course. It has no bearing on their State firearms certification.

This type of course is generally more difficult that what the State requires. It would be possible for them to pass the State course, and fail the Department's course, and still be certified.

Posted by duoneber (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

this is just absurd! some say ironton needs a 24 hr staffed fire, police and ems service. but my God... the city makes the ems raise their bills with no increase in incentives for their employees... nearly any increase in wages or benefits for the police... but a crap ton for the fire department!

SEOEMS bills more to support their staff- the police get $58,000 increase and the fire department gets $194,000 increase!!! DOES ANYONE NOT SEE THAT THIS IS ABSURD/?????

you hear and pass a SEOEMS ambulance responding to or transporting from a call NUMEROUS times throughout the day. you hear or pass a police car nearly the same amount of time. but how often do you hear or see a fire truck in the city of ironton??? if you do see them, they are most likely headed to the car crash that the police and ems are headed to, yet if the person isn't trapped in the car, the firemen just stand around and do nothing.

the rest of the firemen's time is spent in their lazy boys watching tv or in their expensive work out room at the station or asleep in their comfy little beds at the station. oh and of course they have to go shopping at the grocery as a whole to gather their food to prepare for the dinner they will cook that night because they WONT be interrupted by a call for help that will result in wasted food- you know, like the police and ems have to endure.

this is just pathetic and absurd. ironton doesn't need a paid fire department. their call volume isn't high enough.

BRING IN THE VOLUNTEERS!!!

Posted by myview (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

duoneber... Seriously have you done ANY research on this subject? If you are a TAX PAYING resident of the city you definately want your paid fire department. Your homeowners insurance is calculated by the ISO rating of your fire department. I'll promise Ironton's ISO is one of the lowest in the county if not the lowest. I live in the country and I pay out the nose for homeowners ins.
When you need the FD in Ironton you can rest assured that a fully staffed fire engine will arrrive. In the country you Might get 2 firefighters on the scene. IF the volunteer firefighters in your area are not at their "real job".
I'll bet there is more to your rant, why are you so upset with the IFD? Did you get turned down for a job there? No one in their right mind would want a volunteer FD when there is a paid department in place. I personally know most of the IFD firefighters and they are top notch, Ironton should be proud to have them at their service.

Posted by Eric_Stratton (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

duoneber's post is so filled with inaccuracies and venom, it almost isn't worth answering, but why not.

As for your ramblings about seoems and the city making them raise rates, guess again brainiac, the county commission is who requested the rate increase.

You make a statement about the call volume of the Ironton Fire Department being low. How do you know? Their call volumes are at or near all-time highs and have been so for the last 5 or more years.

Statements about sitting around and working out in their weight room are hugely exaggerated. Their work day is taken up by state mandated training, vehicle, equipment and station maintenance, fire safety inspections, fire prevention and public service in addition to emergency runs. Yes, there is down time and yes, there is time for physical fitness, but with all this, their day is not a waste of time as you infer. As for their work at emergency scenes, you seem to be some sort of expert with your analysis of their efforts on vehicle accidents. Until you know what's going on at each scene, are there from start to finish on all of them and can look at it from some unbiased point of view, you might try just keeping to what you know. Whatever that is, like making up your own crap to type on a newspaper website.

As for your analysis on meals, etc, you are 100% incorrect, again. There are many interrupted meals at the Ironton Fire Department just like other fire departments. Your assertion that they don't go on runs at meal time is just as absurd as your whole post.

Spew the venom elsewhere, the men and women of fire, ems and police don't deserve this.

It is obvious that you have some deep seeded anxiety against the fire department for a reason only near and dear to your coal black heart, just be glad if you ever need them, they will be there without delay whether you talk bad about them or not. Plus, the next time you or a loved one needs a squad and the next closest one is coming from Kitts Hill or Chesapeake, be glad that the Ironton FD has its first responder program, it just may safe you or your loved one's life. Just ask the many served well or even one of the lives saved.

Posted by piece_of_mind (anonymous) on June 11, 2009 at 11:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

it's ok 'myview' and 'eric stratton'... you are ironton fire men defending your company just like the police do when rebutting a scandal and the ems get on here and do when they try to think their better than the private service. you have your perceptions and the public has their own.

what you both have stated may be true in your own eyes but please... prove it! show us some of your stats. let us see how busy you are.

as far as the volunteer fire men... they always respond when they are called and no, you don't get a fully staffed truck... you get 3 or 4 FULLY staffed trucks because the WHOLE department shows up to help. and they do show up in an appropriate time.

why do the 'paid' fire men always have to put down the 'volunteer' fire men. you all always think your better than those who WILLINGLY put their lives on the line to help others WITHOUT the though of earning a paycheck... they do it because their hearts tell them to!!!

the volunteers do EXACTLY the same thing as the paid fire men only they do it for FREE! they have the same equipment, the same qualified men and the same training.

ironton is POOR! we have to start cutting costs somewhere and heaven forbid PUBLIC- did you all realize that the IFD was getting so much money to support their STAFF instead of new and improved equipment---- don't let them fool you either, their new equipment, just like the township fire departments, get it through GRANTS- not the county funds!!! the IFD doesn't need to receive another $200,000 for personnel benefits------ let it go to benefit the county!!!

Posted by rooster1410 (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 12:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Firemen get a $500 bonus for passing a physical fitness test administered by the chief's designee???
Policemen get a $300 bonus for firearms class?
OMG--that is absolutely STUPID!!!!
Why should hard working taxpayers have to
pay for these people doing the jobs they were
hired to perform???

Posted by michaelstevens (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 12:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

this is to DUnoneber, i realy can't believe you said that, if you feel that way then don't call them when your wife is hit by a drunk driver of your house catches on fire, wait about 20 min for the volenteer to show up, use your head man, every second counts when you need them.

Posted by duoneber (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 12:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hey mike, i can believe i just said that. because it's true. only the fire men think otherwise.

Posted by duoneber (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 12:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

oh and mike... the chances of my wife being hit by a car is slim to none. the chances of my house catching on fire is possible, but i have an alarm that alerts 911 if that happens. plus, i live in greenup... the IFD won't be responding to my emergency. therefore, i won't be calling 'them'.

oh, and i once heard about a car crash in front of cook's farm center on state route 141... if i recall, the upper township department was there before the ironton fire department. i guess your ironton fire men were to busy with fire prevention or checking smoke alarms to respond to a car crash. hmm.. makes ya wonder huh?

Posted by myview (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

piece_of_mind..... You my friend are WRONG, I've been a VOLUNTEER firefighter/ first responder in Lawrence County for over 12 years. (Department Chief for 10 yrs.)I have never been a member of IFD nor do I even want to. Before volunteering here I was also a vol. EMT and firefighter in the state I lived in.
Also get ALL you facts paid firefighters must attend a firefighters class over 100 hours at the state fire academy. Volunteer's are only required to take a 36 hour class.
As for the facts.... Call ANY insurance agent and ask the difference between and ISO 9 rating and an ISO 4 fire rating.
I will defend the IFD as would I defend the county volunteer fire departments.

Posted by Vil (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

duoneber is a SEOEMS employee, and we know SEOEMS think they are better than God himself when saving a life. God doesn't know their techniques, that's what they'll tell you.

I live in Ironton and I appreciate the hard work of our local fire department. I don't agree with a few of their incentives they are getting, but I'd never trade them for a group of volunteer firefighters. Knowing a full crew is coming is reassuring.

Plus, I pay cheap homeowners insurance compared to family members who live in the county.

Posted by phantomclown (anonymous) on June 12, 2009 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow! Who let the kids out of the playpen???????
How unfortunate that ignorance is what drives people to leave comments on this website, whether it be about the fire department, seoems, the police, yadda, yadda, yadda!

duoneber: I feel sorry for any member of your family if they were hit by a car in greenup county. Depending on where you live, you may get greenup county ems, portsmouth, or even mts for an ambulance. Good luck on surviving just by who comes to care for them! As for your comments about seoems, what makes you believe that they think they are better than anyone else when it comes to saving a life? Do you work for seoems?

piece of mind: Ironton fire has dedicated guys who fight fire in the city, and go above and beyond when asked. Why don't you buy a scanner, listen to Lawrence co 911's channel, and see just how many calls they do respond on. Maybe this will clear up the confusion about how they spend their days on shift. Yes, their days vary on how busy they are, but when they are needed, they are right on it!

People, please! The city has no money, the commissioners are the one pulling the gears, and they get voted in to make these decisions for the county! Why not pull their chain and ask them why they cover up their own actions instead of telling the whole truth about their views on police, fire, and ems.

We should be very thankful for the police, fire, and ems services we have that are always there in an emergency! I like knowing that my fire department has trained professionals who act quickly in any emergency, that my ems peeps have many hours of training, and that the same people have worked there for years, and the police for always responding when called.

As for volunteer firefighters, there are many out there who do respond when needed. They are members of the first responder program and come out on their own time because they choose to. Choice-the meaning of doing something when asked to. Some take it seriously, some horse around and don't. But, as with any volunteer organization, volunteers come out when they are able. They cannot leave their jobs to respond, may not want to get out of bed to respond, and can't leave the local pub after having fun with friends to respond while intoxicated, which is fine. At least with IFD, the crew is there to respond 24/7, and can call in reinforcemants when necessary.

Paid and volunteer are both important parts of the 911 system. EMS and police are also part of that system.

Working together is the best choice. Finding new resources for Ironton is another great choice. Build it instead of tearing it apart.

Posted by duoneber (anonymous) on June 13, 2009 at 12:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

to vil and clowny... no, i don't work with seoems- they have attitude problems.

to the others- what i was meaning.. i would like an answer as to why in the world the ironton fire men are getting sooooo much money for their PERSONAL benefit- NOT THE BENEFIT of the COUNTY---- what the heck is up with that????

i think it's ludicrus that they get soooo much money for themselves while the county is folding in the financial sense. i know i'm not the only one that sees this as a PROBLEM! i appreciate the fact that the ironton residents get a 24 hr staffed fire truck- that's great of course- but the near $200K they are getting this year IS NOT FOR THE CITY!

THAT IS ABSURD!!!!!!

SAVE MONEY LAWRENCE COUNTY!!!!!

Posted by phantomclown (anonymous) on June 13, 2009 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

duoneber- Could you please explain why you believe that seoems has attitude problems?

Do you work for another ambulance service?

I have not experienced problems with any seoems person whenever I have called for their help.

Have you had a negative experience? I wonder how, if you are from Greenup co?

Posted by bornandraisedironton (anonymous) on June 14, 2009 at 1:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To duoneber - Why are you even comparing the IFD to anything county related? 2 different budgets - Lawrence county and Ironton City. Makes no sense to even mention them in any financial comparisons.

Next - You complain that SEOEMS has attitude problems. What you mean is that they are a lot more picky in who they hire. Other services in the Tri-State are not that selective. I don't need to be any more specific. Anyone that has dealt with employees of all these companies can vouch for the differences. Sorry if you didn't make the cut with SEOEMS. With your attitude - I wouldn't hire you either.

Re IPD - you state - 'BUT i do wish there was a way to wipe out a great portion of the IPD officers.

it's been said time and time again that many many many of them are dirty.

they walk around with their heads held high and hide behind the badge on their chest. they love to intimidate people, acting all big and bad.'

What exactly would you wish they do? They should walk around with a sense of pride in their jobs. Acting 'big and bad' - what is wrong with that? You would prefer they cower and beg for respect? Show me any wimpy law enforcement officer acting that way. They would not last long in that career.

Re dirty officers - If you have any actual proof - not rumors - that any officer is 'dirty' - by all means take it to a higher authority. But bring proof - real proof. Something that can be investigated and verified.

Finally - You have some serious problems that this newspaper forum cannot possibly cure. Seek professional help soon - -

Posted by Eric_Stratton (anonymous) on June 14, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Two thumbs up to bornandraisedironton.