We like to think in the eyes of many that public safety is paramount. At the end of the day, we like to know that we have enough police officers and firefighters to keep the community safe.

So we share the concerns of the St. Cloud Fire Rescue chief and the St. Cloud Professional Fire Union when they told the St. Cloud City Council that the fire department is understaffed by nine firefighters.

While it didn’t solve the shortage, we applaud Council members Russell Holmes, Tom Griffin and Donny Shroyer who voted first reading to pass the amendment to transfer $200,000 from the city’s $4.5 million contingency fund to hire three of the nine firefighters needed to bring the city’s fire department up to minimum staffing requirements, according to state law.

St. Cloud Fire Rescue Chief Bill Johnston said his department is understaffed, often running with less than the minimum required 16 firefighters per shift per station.

If anybody should know if a fire department is understaffed, it’s the firefighters themselves. We have no reason not to believe them.

So we think it was a little disappointing that Mayor Rebecca Borders and Councilwoman Mickey Hopper voted against the amended budget.

Borders was concerned about removing funds from the contingency account, as it’s not a reoccurring fund.

Border and Hopper wanted to wait to see if the city is awarded a federal grant that would fund the hiring of nine new firefighters for two years before the city would need to pay their salaries.

We understand their logic, but we don’t think there can be any hesitation when it comes to public safety. If a majority of the commission felt it was necessary right now to hire at least three more firefighters we think that sends a message.

Hopper said the firefighters were trying to scare the residents that they weren’t going to get proper care. We just think they were looking after their community.

The City Council will vote on the amended budget on second reading Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Cloud City Hall. We believe there should be a unanimous vote to help provide the best public safety for St. Cloud.