City council approves work schedule for fire department

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

The city council voted at its Tuesday night meeting to make the Copperas Cove Fre Department’s modified work schedule a permanent thing. 

The council chambers had a number of the Fire Department staff present for the meeting, where Battalion Chief Scott Howard, over the department’s A shift, shared data that the department has gathered over the six-month trial of a 48-hour/96-hour shift.

Findings from the trial 48/96 work schedule showed no negative impact on emergency response, improved productivity, and reduced sick leave by 12 percent. 

The schedule also led to better work-life balance and reduced stress for firefighters. The financial impact was $16,232, with two firefighters on extended leave during that time period and other firefighters working overtime to fill the gaps.

Also, there were no resignations due to the 48/96 schedule; six resignations occurred for other reasons.

The council supported the proposal, noting positive feedback from family members and firefighters. 

Herb & Earnie’s which operates in downtown Copperas Cove, had a contract for “Mulligans” concessions that expired on July 31 off this year. 

The new vendor will be called “19th Hole” and be operated by Mishelle Morrison. 

The council also heard a quarterly update from the Heart of Texas Defense Alliance (HOTDA) and authorized a payment of $4,505 for professional services. 

It also appointed Jerry Cantrell to Position 6 on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

During the council’s workshop, Parks & Recreation Director Jeff Stoddard made a presentation to the council about giving the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce operational control of the Civic Center and the Parks and Recreation Administrative facility onsite.

“Just recently, I briefed you on the feasibility study for the sports complex, and after that, we purchased land for the new Senior Center, which also had the adjacent property that had the building on it,” Stoddard told the council. “We were looking at possibly making that the Parks and Rec admin offices.”

Stoddard said he had a brief conversation with Beth Galick-Carney, the chamber of commerce president, and the chamber is interested in that proposal. 

He said there would need to be hard numbers and figures, but the operational control would be similar to the senior center operations, but the building facility will still be owned by the city. The hotel occupancy tax funds will be managed by the city staff as far as renovations done to the facility.

“At this point, we were just trying to see where the city council sat, and if you had any questions or anything for us to look into further for that.”

This would not happen “tomorrow”, said City Manager Ryan Haverlah, but it was and idea that Stoddard had brought to him. 

“I do think there is value in it, for marketing and the use of the civic center and trying to draw in new conferences, new training opportunities that the Chamber of Commerce is more suited for, from a marketing standpoint and connection standpoint, outside of the city.

Councilmember Joann Courtland asked if the fee schedule for the facility would continue under the city’s. 

Haverlah said he imagined that at the end of the day, that would be a council decision, but the recommendation would be to follow the city fee schedule. 

The council agreed for the city to move forward with the idea, but to get more financial numbers to bring back. 

“It would need to be self supported, not just coming out of general fund accounts, our fund counts. 

“I would imagine, if they took over operational control, that would be utilities, everything, and depending on what council decides, how those revenues are split up or divvied up, or if they keep all of it – again, that’s going to be a council decision.” 

Haverlah said the idea is “extremely preliminary.” 

The council also recognized four staff members for their year of service, to include Larry Scott Jr., Solid Waste Director (5 years); Jeff Davis, Human Resources Director (10 years); Carol Ballesteros, Firefighter II/Paramedic (20 years); and Gary Young, Fire Chief (35 years). Also the first graduates of the city’s first Citizen Leadership Academy were recognized.