Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, the city of Cosmopolis will no longer have its 12 volunteer firefighters.
According to a release from the Association of Cosmopolis Firefighters, all current members of the Cosmopolis Volunteer Fire Department will be resigning in the new year due to irreconcilable differences with Mayor Kyle Pauley and some members of the Cosmopolis City Council.
The Association of Cosmopolis Firefighters, which is composed of the 12 volunteers, announced their decision to resign last week in a press release. The Association voted on the resignation in their final monthly meeting of the year.
“Following the transfer of power to Mayor Pauley, the Cosmopolis Fire Department has not been able to operate efficiently, or safely,” said the release. “Mayor Pauley has removed necessary funding, and leadership where it is most needed without plans or communication to restructure our organization.”
Pauley was surprised to not have been notified of the impending walkout, but he knew that strong action was a possibility amid years of high tensions and disagreements between his administration and the volunteer fire department.
“Since I came into office, I implemented some changes that the fire department didn’t agree with, so there’s been veiled threats of something like this for a few years,” said Pauley. “Under COVID protocols and budget stuff we’ve butted heads a bit and it’s been a tumultuous relationship.”
The city of Cosmopolis experienced tight financial constraints when Cosmo Speciality Fibers, a speciality pulp mill in town, suspended operations in May 2020 due to pandemic-induced overseas market declines. The reduction in tax revenue from the stalled operations resulted in cuts across the board for the city, and forced Pauley to introduce more serious financial procedures, such as purchase orders.
“This letter paints a broad and inaccurate representation of the story,” said Pauley. “It’s very one-sided when realistically the former chief and some of the department did not want to follow the procedure that all other departments have to follow.”
Former Chief Cody Bridges was removed by Pauley from his position in May, and then from the fire department altogether in July. Following his departure, a lack of leadership and chronic understaffing caused crucial paperwork, such as license renewals and training certifications, to be lost in communication between departments.
“It was a big change from what had been done before, adjusting to that and being that they’re all volunteers and don’t have their own administrative staff to handle that paperwork, I think that overwhelmed them at times,” said Pauley. “There’s been a severe lack of communication from the department to City Hall over the past two years, and that’s where a lot of this falls into.”
According to Bridges, the department was prepared for budgetary cuts, but disagreed with Pauley’s approach to more procedural aspects of running the department.
“None of that was particularly the issue, that’s just the hand we were dealt and had to work through. I understood the cuts,” said Bridges.
According to Bridges, budgets for the Fire Department were set forth by Pauley and his administration to the City Council without the chief’s consultation. He believes these budgets did not accurately reflect the needs of the department, particularly with regards to necessary equipment updates, and that such neglect poses a threat to public safety.
Recruitment has also been a major priority for the department, which has been operating below the 15-person staff mandated by city ordinance.
“The mayor and his administration need to come up with a plan to provide coverage. In no way did the volunteers walk away from the citizens. We’ve done amazing work for 127 years because we love our city and our neighbors, but there’s a big cost to one of us going out there and potentially getting hurt on a call because we don’t have the resources,” said Bridges.
Cosmopolis will be covered by the Aberdeen Fire Department after Jan. 1. Pauley hopes the fire department will be rebuilt with new volunteers if none of those resigning are willing to return.
“In the end, I believe the department and I want the same thing: the best possible coverage. How we do that and the policies is where we differ,” said Pauley. “Any of the policies and budgetary moves — none of that is going to change. The current staff and volunteers, if that’s not something they can work with, that’s their choice, and they will be missed and we appreciate their service.”
If the city is unable to recruit new volunteers, they will have to look to more expensive long-term contracting options. Pauley plans to conduct a thorough study of the Fire Department to assess inventory and aid in long-term planning. He hopes it will serve as an opportunity to improve communication between the department and the city.
“Looking at the budget, it’s definitely not where it was three years ago, much less 15 years ago,” said Pauley. “The city is committed to continue funding the department, but funds are limited. If they all decide to step away, it’s a major impact.”
