[03/06/01] Vicksburg officials struggled to sort out education requirements for firefighters Monday and concluded by toughening the fire department’s overall hiring policy and loosening a medical training requirement.

South Ward Alderman and Fire Commissioner Sam Habeeb dissented on adding the requirement that applicants have a minimum of 40 hours of college credit, but Mayor Robert Walker and Alderman Gertrude Young prevailed.

Habeeb said the only change needed was to make sure applicants had scored high enough on the American College Test to be admitted to community college. “I think that the reason the ACT needs to be in there is that (applicants) are going to have to apply to get into the EMT course,” Habeeb said.

The discussion started after a request from fire department administrators to increase the education requirements to ensure that applicants would be able to meet the minimum admission standards at Hinds Community College.

Hinds is where new firefighters take the emergency medical technician training they are required to complete within a year of being hired.

Under existing policies, applicants must only have a high school diploma or GED. Without also having a 17 or higher on the ACT in addition to the diploma, some new hires couldn’t get into Hinds and thus couldn’t take EMT courses.

“We’re trying to make sure that when we hire someone that they’re qualified,” said Fire Department Deputy Chief Wayne Scott, who manages personnel issues for the department.

Walker said the fire department hiring policy should match the police department policy, which requires 40 hours of college work. That’s about three semesters.

“I can go along with having college course requirement like in the police department, but to arbitrarily set an ACT score, I cannot accept,” Walker said.

Under the new rules that will go into effect March 22, applicants will be required to have the 40 hours of college credit or two years’ service as a firefighter in another department. Firefighters will still be required to become EMT-certified, but will not have to complete the training during their first year of employment.

The city has eight fire departments, each of which is staffed full-time with EMT-certified firefighters. There are also three ambulance stations throughout the city, which also provide service outside of municipal limits.

In other matters the board:

Approved a continuance requested by Charles Riles in the zoning appeal on the proposed site of a new funeral home on Indiana Avenue. Riles said he was unable to attend the scheduled hearing Monday. The hearing was rescheduled at 10 a.m. April 16.

Read a proclamation for Walter Crum in honor of his 25 years of service with the City of Vicksburg.

Approved a $750 advertisement for maps being printed by the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce.

Received bids for concession stand operations at City Park and Halls Ferry Park, vehicle accessories and for the clean up of dump sites on Pearl and Marshall streets.

Awarded bids for asphaltic materials, sand and gravel and concrete.

Executed a grant agreement for the 1999 HOME project for $250,000 that will provide down payment assistance to home buyers at the Kings housing program.

Approved an adjustment to the kitchen rental fees at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Amended the city’s firearms ordinance to make it illegal to carry a knife over 4 inches in length on city property.

Approved the request for the Christ 2001 parade to be April 14 on Washington Street.

Entered executive session where the board discussed litigation matters and personnel matters with the safety department. No action was taken.