By Perry Schaible
Enquirer contributor

LIBERTY TWP. - Firefighters in this fast-growing Butler County community have filed for union representation.

The township's 11 full-time firefighter/paramedics have been recognized by the International Association of Fire Fighters and given a union number - No. 4394. Now they will wait to see whether township trustees will accept or challenge the union formation.

The Liberty Township Professional Firefighters filed for a request of recognition from the state Employment Relations Board last month.

Trustees President Christine Matacic said the township has been served papers and has consulted a lawyer. .

Jim Watkins, president of the Liberty Township Professional Firefighters, called the move a "natural progression" for the growing department.

"It basically gives us a legal platform to address the concerns that affect (us)," he said.

Watkins said the township has indicated it will ask the Employment Relations Board to conduct a vote to confirm the employees' decision.

The International Association of Fire Fighters represents more than 263,000 professional firefighters and emergency medical personnel in the United States and Canada. There are more than 2,900 affiliates.

Fire Chief Paul Stumpf doesn't anticipate any drastic changes in the department if the union is established.

"It's a learning experience with the different legal steps and requirements," he said.

The fire department has seen significant growth in the last several years as the township, which had a population jump of 147 percent in the 1990s, approaches a population of 28,000.

Construction is under way on a third fire station to serve the southwestern quadrant of the community, and Stumpf plans to hire seven full-time firefighters by year's end.

Watkins said the firefighters have always had a good working relationship with township staff and Stumpf.

"We wanted to try to instill (the union) now while the relationship is good," he said.