The Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors voted unanimously last week to add nine firefighter/paramedic positions.

Board members earlier this month had discussed financial projections compiled by Assistant Chief Steve Mossotti that showed the addition of nine firefighter/paramedic positions would re-duce overtime costs by roughly $566,000, resulting in new personnel costs of about $27,500.

During that March 6 meeting, Chairman Aaron Hilmer said adding nine additional firefighter/paramedic positions would provide a “tremendous increase” in service, including staffing the district’s fifth ambulance 24 hours a day for 354 days per year.

During 2007, the fifth ambulance was staffed 24 hours a day for 60 days.

In a separate matter at the March 13 meeting, Hilmer told veteran firefighter Tim White that the fire district’s legal counsel, Mathew Hoffman, still is reviewing a six-point proposal involving pension and other benefits that White had submitted to the board on Feb. 29.

White, a firefighter/emergency medical technician who has been employed by the district since 1985, recently resigned his membership in Local 1889 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Of the proposal, Hilmer said, “… We’re considering it. We’re working on getting it back to you. So that’s where that stands …”