KPTM FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; Nebraska News, Sports; kptm.com | Ad Calls on Council to Repeal Staffing Ordinance

Ad Calls on Council to Repeal Staffing Ordinance

Adam Krueger

OMAHA (KPTM)- The debate over firefighter staffing rages on Tuesday.

The council will hear from members from both sides of the argument, as city councilman Franklin Thompson brings the ordinance back to the table.

"We are the only city dumb enough to have this ordinance," businessman David Nabity said.
Nabity is the treasurer of Omaha Alliance for the Private Sector. He says the law that requires a minimum number of firefighters on a truck is hosing the taxpayers of Omaha.

"When they did an independent audit, they found $5 million dollars that could be saved," Nabity adds.

The businessman says he's not trying to put firefighters out of work, but  just wants the fire department to know its shouldn't be above taking some of the heat from the city's budget cuts."They are gutting the police department but they aren't touching the fire department."

Nabity and the OAPS even put together a television ad to try and get the minimum firefighter staffing law off the books.

One of the four city council members who voted to keep the mandatory staff law says he doesn't have a problem with the group putting out the ad.

"It's democracy at its finest," city councilman Garry Gernandt said.

Gernandt did say that Omaha Alliance for the Private Sector is jumping the gun as far implying the city's budget will pass as is.