A large crowd of Fulton citizens gathered outside city hall 30 minutes before the council meeting started Tuesday to rally support for increased wages for Fulton firefighters.
Wives, girlfriends, children, friends and parents of Fulton firefighters, along with former Fulton firefighters and concerned community members, donned custom "I support the Fulton Firefighters" yellow shirts and red clothing, and held posters and red balloons to demand respect for city firefighters.
Reshonda Mobley joined the gathering to support her boyfriend, Fulton firefighter Scott Peterson, by holding a sign visible to cars passing by city hall.
"These guys are out here risking their lives every day for the citizens of Fulton and for the council just to basically wash away what they're requesting," Mobley said. "It's not like they're requesting to make as much as a council member does here, which is insanely high compared to other cities with the same population. They're just asking to be recognized for what they actually do."
Mobley added that the firefighters are currently working without a contract.
"With the union, that's never a good thing," she said. "It almost feels like to us that they (council members) told us, "We don't care. You make what you should make, and that's what you deserve.'"
Mobley emphasized that Fulton firefighters are more qualified than other small-town fire departments because Fulton requires firefighters to obtain more certification and complete more class training. Yet, the turnover rate for Fulton firefighters remains too high - four left the department this year because other departments offered them a higher starting wage. Mobley said firefighters ultimately must choose between staying in Fulton and making $8.65 an hour or leaving for a more reasonable, sustainable living wage to provide for their family at another department.
"We keep losing guys going to other departments because they get so much more out of it," she said. "We are becoming a stepping stone department. People are coming in here having to have the training just to be part of this department and not even getting paid for that training. There's other departments that don't require that and they're still making more money."
Most Fulton firefighters work two or three other jobs to pay bills and help their family, according to several firefighter supporters. Mobley's boyfriend currently works three jobs and misses out on "family time."
"He's picking up side jobs now because he's struggling to pay regular bills in this economy," she said as vehicles passing by honked to express support. "He's underpaid as a firefighter for the cost of living."
Mobley added that keeping qualified firefighters with exceptional experience and background credentials should be considered a priority to council members, yet it is still overlooked, in addition to several fire department vehicle and equipment maintenance issues.
"These guys have trucks in the station that sit around and don't go anywhere," she said. "We have equipment that needs to be repaired. Basically all the city is doing is putting Band-Aids on things - they're not improving them."
Mobley thinks there's a firetruck that hasn't moved in a few years, and she is not optimistic that the city will make plans to replace the truck anytime soon.
"Why do we still have it? Give us something that's not going to break down in a week," she urged. "You can only put a Band-Aid on something so many times before it's not going to work anymore."
Shortly before 6:30 p.m., the crowd filled inside city hall and prepared for a heated public hearing. Some supporters were surprised and confused to see most council members wearing red, including Fulton Director of Administration Bill Johnson, who many believe has mislead the Fulton Fire Union with previous statements on amending the 2015 city budget to approve the proposed nine percent fire department wage increase. Johnson voiced his disapproval to city and fire union negotiators during past negotiations and at the last council meeting Aug. 11 when he voted against the updated contract.
Before official council business commenced, several firefighter supporters addressed the council to express their concerns on the issue, asking city officials to reconsider their stance.
Barbara Stassel approached the podium first. She passionately urged the council to realize the consequences of its actions. She called firemen's pay inadequate for the quality service they provide daily, and mentioned how the department has helped her.
"Our family has personally needed the firemen's help on several occasions - once for a flue fire in our fireplace and other when my husband fell and needed assistance before taking him to the hospital," Stassel shouted. "They expedited their services, their skill and proficiency. Many times I have heard from people that our firemen helped, aided or came to rescue even when these men were off duty."
Stassel quoted previous statements from Johnson from an earlier edition of the Fulton Sun that offended her.
"Every working man focuses on money!" Stassel yelled after reading Johnson's comments, hitting the podium after every word for emphasis. "You do, I do, all of us do! The attitude is if you don't like it, you can go elsewhere! It's not right! Where is the civility for our families here?!"
Stassel voiced her disbelief that only one elected official voted for support of the fire union's proposal for increased wages.
"When the call comes, they arrive at the scene and never know what they may ultimately face, that they may have to perhaps deal with the loss of property, personal loss, loss of life, sadness and grief," she said, still pounding the podium."We all know the firemen do an excellent job. We don't know adversity until we have to walk in our brothers' shoes. We must always leave a man with his dignity and his pride - a day's pay for a day's wages. They are there for us, and we should be there for them!"
Several other firefighter supporters addressed the council to voice their opinion, including two former Fulton firefighters, fire union representative Todd Gray, a volunteer fireman, a friend of a current firefighter and a Fulton citizen.
Before the council meeting was adjourned, Fulton Mayor LeRoy Benton told the supporters that stayed for the session that he realized the level of frustration is incredibly high, and he wants to continue "the talk" with fire union representatives.
"We still have to move within current constraints," Mayor Benton said. "We're doing what we can."
He added that he was proud to see such a large organized gathering of community support for Fulton firefighters. He pledged that that he will try to address any inadequacies with negotiations as quickly as he can.