Monroe Chat

When the City of Monroe went into Fiscal emergency status, many services were curtailed. With all due respect to our emergency services personnel, I wonder if they've forgotten the days of yore when they couldn't drive the firetrucks or police cars to Kroger's or elsewhere. When the City didn't have the money for such excursions.
I say this because I see them driving the larger vehicles (ladder truck, maybe?) to the grocery. This uses a lot of diesel fuel, which is paid for by the taxpayers (one of which I happen to be). I've seen similar situations by the police patrols.
My concern is that the City of Monroe went to extremes to get a tax levied against residents and now, it appears, they have plenty of money to spend. My employer doesn't allow me to leave work in the company car, so I can pick up some groceries, or check on my lawnmower. Should the City of Monroe allow it? Do the people in the water department drive city owned vehicles when they are ready for lunch?
I"m not looking to get anyone in trouble, but I think the City should remain financially conservative and curb their spending whenever possible. Not just when times are tough.
Thoughts?

Here are my possibly misinformed thoughts (much of what I know about firestations comes from watching Emergency 51; is there a Chet at every station?): Since the firefighters have to be on duty for a greater length of time than the average employee, I think it's reasonable for them to use a department vehicle (preferably one best suited to the needs at hand) to make excursions that allow them to procure the necessities of daily living. Theirs is a special situation.

Additionally, I think they should have fast access to the equipment they need to make an emergency run if they get a call while trying to meet their personal needs while on duty.

My $.02.

I've taken that scenario into account, but I can't help feel this: They know they'll be on the job for a solid 24 hours, and they should prepare accordingly. That means taking whatever they will need in that 24 hour period. Be that food, personal hygiene, or whatever movie they'd like to watch (providing they have a little down-time).
If they come to work prepared, then they will have no need to run to Kroger's or wherever. Bottom line for me is that they are using taxpayers money. When the money wasn't flowing as freely as it is now, I don't think they were taking these trips. Now that funds are coming in (again, by the City forcing additional taxes upon us) they have started to spend more freely. I just think they should behave as tho it was their money going into the fuel tanks.
Again, I want to reiterate that I'm not meaning to pick on the Fire Dept. or police dept. I think all of our Emergency Services personnel are doing a great job. I just wonder if they've started to lose touch with the way things were just a couple of years ago.
Emergency 51 was a great series, wasn't it? (As was Adam 12)

fixitman wrote:I've taken that scenario into account, but I can't help feel this: They know they'll be on the job for a solid 24 hours, and they should prepare accordingly. That means taking whatever they will need in that 24 hour period. Be that food, personal hygiene, or whatever movie they'd like to watch (providing they have a little down-time).
If they come to work prepared, then they will have no need to run to Kroger's or wherever. Bottom line for me is that they are using taxpayers money. When the money wasn't flowing as freely as it is now, I don't think they were taking these trips. Now that funds are coming in (again, by the City forcing additional taxes upon us) they have started to spend more freely. I just think they should behave as tho it was their money going into the fuel tanks.
Again, I want to reiterate that I'm not meaning to pick on the Fire Dept. or police dept. I think all of our Emergency Services personnel are doing a great job. I just wonder if they've started to lose touch with the way things were just a couple of years ago.
Emergency 51 was a great series, wasn't it? (As was Adam 12)

Oh my! I didn't think anybody else remembered Adam 12!

Hey thought I would put a few notations I have seen in the past few days. When I was at Kroger's yesterday I did see the Pickup truck & not the Fire Trucks.

Well, that's better.