The Demorest City Council meeting raised many concerns regarding money, but one of the defining moments of the Feb. 4 meeting centered around Fire Chief Ken Ranalli. With budget conflicts regarding the Demorest Fire Department at the forefront of the minds of many citizens, Ranalli took time to address the public.
“There’s been a lot of comments made, and questions made, about myself and my department,” Ranalli said.
Chief Ranalli has been in fire service for roughly 35 years and claims to hold “almost every known certificate,” in fire and EMS services. Along with his work in Demorest, Ranalli works with Dekalb County Fire Rescue, where he says he works an average of eight times a month. “When I leave, I leave my family in their [the Demorest Fire Department] hands,” he says. “Just like I have you in my hands every night that I’m here, every day that I’m here. I’m paid for 40 hours.”
“Since it was questioned, I’ve been keeping track, just so I could feel good about myself,” Ranalli said, teary-eyed. “In December, I averaged 49 hours a week. In January, I averaged 62 hours a week. In February, so far [as of Feb. 4, 2020], I’ve averaged 56 hours a week. If anyone questions my loyalty to this city, please don’t. I don’t take from this city.”
Govsalaries.org reports that Ranalli makes a yearly salary of $47,961. In the United States, 50 percent of fire chiefs make less than $80,000 annually.
“[As] part of the budget cutback, you [the city] asked me to cut back. I’ve already turned my raise back in– the set raise that you [the council] approved,” Ranalli said. He claims to have started working on these budget cuts in July, which were approved. “As a department head, you came to me and said, ‘cut this money,’ I didn’t know where to at first. I had never experienced that, I was caught. I went to several people for help, and everybody said, ‘just bring it up to the council and the mayor,’ and that’s what I did. And now, it seems like I’m faulted for that. I’ll be more than happy to sit down with you [the council] and try to figure out ways to save. I do not want to impact this city in any way—negatively. It has to be positive.”
Demorest had 39 fires in 2019, two of which completely destroyed the buildings. Ranalli says that the damage in many of these fires could have been worse, though. The fire department is more often than not able to arrive at the scene before a homeowner loses everything; Ranalli reports that the fire department’s average response time is minutes.
“I don’t need the Cadillac, but I do need the stuff that I ask for. I go through everything; I lose so much sleep, trust me. I don’t want to spend money. But just like this pickup truck, there [are] things that I need to do this job, to provide services to you all,” Ranalli said, referring to the reason he was at this council meeting in the first place: to ask the city council for a new truck.
“The truck that I’m asking for is something I can take to respond in that has lights, that’s labeled, that has a radio, that I can carry my gear in. Why is this important? Because it counts me as another individual on staff. So when we do get nationally accredited […], I have to meet those [required] targets, [to be counted] as staff for the hour. Not just the 64, not just the 56, or the 40 hours I’m paid for; the hours that I’m at home with my family,” Ranalli said. “[…] There was some talk about me taking the vehicle down to Dekalb, yes, I have driven the vehicle to Dekalb.”
Ranalli uses his current vehicle to pick up donated supplies for the fire department from Dekalb and Hall county, or for going to fire and EMS related trainings and meetings. “I will not take advantage of this city in any way,” Ranalli said “I swear to you and God himself I will not. But that truck is vital.”
Ranalli said that the truck would give him the ability to get on scene and to hear his firefighters better so he can keep them from “a fatal incident.” He says the truck would give the firefighters somewhere to warm up or cool down, which isn’t something he can offer with his current vehicle. Ranalli requires 24 hours of outside training for his department, and he says that this truck could help those in need of training get to training opportunities.
Mayor Rick Austin voiced support for the fire department’s request for a new truck after stating that they assisted his mother when she fell. But not all of the questions and comments following Ranalli’s request were as agreeable.
“The vehicle you’re speaking of, is that for you or for your firefighters?” Lawrence Bridges, owner of Temperance House Fine Coffee, asked. Ranalli clarified that it would be for the fire department, but he would be the primary user of the new truck. “So, the vehicle that’s being operated now, the pickup truck that we see, the new truck would not replace that?” Bridges asked.
“No, sir,” said Ranalli.
“So you’d be getting a new truck and not your firefighters,” said Bridges.
“Correct,” said Ranalli. “The new truck is a smaller bed and what we currently carry will not fit into that truck. The truck that we currently see, […] the pickup truck, is our rescue truck. It was my pickup truck—it was a hand-me-down truck from the water department. We got that truck and I utilized that truck until we did not have adequate space in our engine to carry all the equipment to do the jobs that we are tasked to do, such as motor vehicle accidents.”
Ranalli explained that some of the equipment the fire department received for motor accidents via a grant would not fit in their current vehicle. The fire department has to take two trucks to accident sites to carry all the equipment they need, which Ranalli says costs more.
“You’re talking about a shorter bed truck than what you already have with more equipment?” Bridges asked.
“No, it will go to additional equipment that we currently cannot carry because we don’t have enough space. It’ll go to my command equipment that we have, and some rehab equipment,” said Ranalli.
Bridges then asked if the fire department had a list of its minimum needs on the scene, which Ranalli said it did. “Does that list adequately provide you with all the equipment you need?” Bridges asked. “No, not even close,” said Ranalli.
“Then why is it the minimum?” Bridges asked.
“Because the minimum equipment for a fire department,” Ranalli began to answer before Bridges cut him off, saying, “We’re not a volunteer fire department.” Mayor Austin cut off the questioning.
“Direct back up this way. You live in Batesville, number one. I appreciate that you have a business here, but let’s keep it up here,” Austin said to Bridges.
Ranalli explained that the minimum didn’t meet the needs of the tasks they encounter on a day-to-day basis.
Many citizens expressed concerns at the beginning of the meeting and to the members of the council regarding lack of funds for city infrastructure, like sidewalks and roads. The council kept these things in mind when the time came to call for a vote, two voting for and two voting against purchasing a new truck for the fire department. Austin broke the tie and voted in favor of the purchase.
Scattered applause filled the room as Ranalli stepped away from the podium. Austin’s wife, Jennifer spoke directly to Ranalli amidst the applause, “Thank you chief, for all you do.”
