QUOTE
Merit Commission accepting applications
By Ilene Haluska
Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, June 17, 2012 5:06 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The Michigan City Fire Merit Commission is still accepting applications for its two-year pool of recruits for Michigan City firefighters.
The Commission is in charge of the Fire Department’s hiring, testing and disciplinary actions. Applicants are interviewed, tested and put on the Commission hiring list that is created every two years. When a spot opens up in the Michigan City Fire Department, a person on the list could be considered for a job.
The hiring of firefighters is based on a point system and includes points for criteria like being a Michigan City resident, being a military veteran during wartime, a written test and the results of an agility test, according to Fire Chief Ronnie Martin and Commission President Keith Harris.
Criteria to become a firefighter is based on Michigan City Ordinance 4164, which was updated in November 2011. The ordinance states that an applicant must also be a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years old and not older than age 35 at the time of entering the department.
Currently the Commission has 161 applicants on the list, and some live as far as Washington D.C., Minnesota and the west coast, Harris said. Also, 18 of the applicants are minorities, three of those minorities are women, seven of the minorities are local, and one woman is from Michigan City. Plus, 28 applicants are from Michigan City, which also garners points for the applicant. Harris added that applications are still coming in while some were removed from the list for age limitations or incomplete applications.
The commission will continue to receive applications until Aug. 10, 2012.
Harris said later the demographics in Michigan City could change, increasing the number hired. But currently it is mostly based on retirements. Two retirements are expected in 2013, and five in 2014, he said.
Currently, of 81 employees of the fire department, 13 firefighters or 16 percent need to be minorities. The previous number required was 15 minorities or 18 percent, Harris said.
Commission officials recently said this was a big year for hiring for the Michigan City Fire Department. It is in the process of training and hiring eight firefighters this year.
Only about 50 percent of applicants usually pass the physical agility and written tests. Some applicants don’t show up, because it’s too expensive to travel. Other applicants may have already secured employment, Harris said.
Once the process is complete, the new list will be good for the next two years, Harris said.
By Ilene Haluska
Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, June 17, 2012 5:06 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The Michigan City Fire Merit Commission is still accepting applications for its two-year pool of recruits for Michigan City firefighters.
The Commission is in charge of the Fire Department’s hiring, testing and disciplinary actions. Applicants are interviewed, tested and put on the Commission hiring list that is created every two years. When a spot opens up in the Michigan City Fire Department, a person on the list could be considered for a job.
The hiring of firefighters is based on a point system and includes points for criteria like being a Michigan City resident, being a military veteran during wartime, a written test and the results of an agility test, according to Fire Chief Ronnie Martin and Commission President Keith Harris.
Criteria to become a firefighter is based on Michigan City Ordinance 4164, which was updated in November 2011. The ordinance states that an applicant must also be a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years old and not older than age 35 at the time of entering the department.
Currently the Commission has 161 applicants on the list, and some live as far as Washington D.C., Minnesota and the west coast, Harris said. Also, 18 of the applicants are minorities, three of those minorities are women, seven of the minorities are local, and one woman is from Michigan City. Plus, 28 applicants are from Michigan City, which also garners points for the applicant. Harris added that applications are still coming in while some were removed from the list for age limitations or incomplete applications.
The commission will continue to receive applications until Aug. 10, 2012.
Harris said later the demographics in Michigan City could change, increasing the number hired. But currently it is mostly based on retirements. Two retirements are expected in 2013, and five in 2014, he said.
Currently, of 81 employees of the fire department, 13 firefighters or 16 percent need to be minorities. The previous number required was 15 minorities or 18 percent, Harris said.
Commission officials recently said this was a big year for hiring for the Michigan City Fire Department. It is in the process of training and hiring eight firefighters this year.
Only about 50 percent of applicants usually pass the physical agility and written tests. Some applicants don’t show up, because it’s too expensive to travel. Other applicants may have already secured employment, Harris said.
Once the process is complete, the new list will be good for the next two years, Harris said.