Members of the Joint Interim Local Government Committee are beginning to track the progress of a priority training academy in Madisonville; the legislature is also beginning to filter the recruitment and retention needs of Kentucky’s police and firefighters.
The Western Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Academy, which was appropriated $50 million in the budget this year, is beginning to take shape. The committee heard that a site survey has been conducted, and the transfer of property in Madisonville is taking place.
The first design kick-off meeting was held on September 18 in Madisonville. Over the next months, the land transfer and design work will be finalized.
Kevin Rader, the Assistant Director of the Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT), said they are targeting to have the project bid out for construction by May of 2025, with construction underway by July of next year. Architects have set a two-year timetable for construction.
DOCJT will not wait for the new facility to start the basic training academy in Madisonville. They plan on having two basic training classes per year utilizing Madisonville Police Department for a classroom before the completion of the new facility. By the time the academy construction is complete, and the new academy opens, they will have 100 recruits trained, Rader said.
Firefighters and Police Seek Help with Recruitment and Retention
Kentucky Fire Chiefs, Kentucky Fire Commission, Kentucky Professional Firefighters, and the Kentucky Firefighters Association all testified on Tuesday, seeking help to retain and attract individuals into the profession.
“It ain’t a big city problem or a small city problem; it’s a commonwealth problem,” Madisonville Fire Chief Kyle Carpenter said of retention issues.
The fire groups and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) are looking towards the pension systems to attract more highly qualified recruits.
Ryan Straw, with Kentucky FOP, said he, too, would like to look at the pension systems.
“I do know something has to change. I’m not sure what that is, but we need to figure something out.”
Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, who is leaving the legislature in January, cautioned the lawmakers on the committee who were not around for the 2013 pension reforms to be wary of any drastic changes to the systems, “A reminder why we changed pension system. We were heading toward financial calamity,” Thayer said.
Thayer said the County Employee Retirement System (CERS) is the “most healthy of the plans, but still not healthy.” The CERS Nonhazardous pension plan is 56% funded, and the CERS hazardous plan is 51% funded.
Straw said he wants “a vibrant and healthy system,” but he doesn’t think it is an easy or quick fix.
“I hate to be coming back here in 20 years. And asking why is my pension system bankrupt,” he said.
Representative Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, said it is “unrealistic at best,” to go from a tier three to a tier two system.
“Although we are much firmer footing than we were in 2013, we’ve still got a way to go,” he said. “I do think the discussion we can all wrap our arms around and work through are on the healthcare side.
