HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Staff within Hastings Fire & Rescue have been working shorthanded for months as they deal with crews at or below minimum staffing levels.

Hastings Fire Chief Troy Vorderstrasse wants to make sure his employees know how much the city appreciates them so he went before city council Monday to request the use of retention bonuses, which they unanimously approved.

The $92,000 in retention bonuses will come out of the fire department’s budget of open positions that haven’t been filled.

The bonus schedule is as follows:

• One year to five years: $3,000

• Five years up to 10 years: $4,000

• Ten years up to 20 years: $5,000

• Twenty years plus: $6,000

Staff who take a retention bonus will have to sign a one year contract to agree to remain with the fire department fo

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