On Feb. 18, 2025, after a recent house fire on St. Andrews Circle, Eldridge city council members begin openly discussing the need for professional fire department staffing. The fire department mentioned the need for a paid fire chief for several years, though discussions never progressed.
Councilman Brian Dockery suggests using gas franchise fee revenue, a charge levied against MidAmerican Energy and Alliant that allows them to operate in Eldridge, to help fund a paid position. City officials begin preliminary discussions with the fire department.
Spring 2025
As city officials examine insurance and liability questions during March 3 and March 17 meetings, they conclude a paid fire chief or staff would likely require the fire department to become a city department. The conversation turns from the hiring of paid staff or a paid fire chief position into full absorption into the city.
Councilman Dan Collins suggests the city look into allocating an additional $40,000 to go towards the salary of a full-time firefighter. Collins indicates to the council that discussions with the fire department are primarily focused on developing a timeline for establishing paid positions.
On April 8, fire chief Keith Schneckloth tells city officials that a paid administrator is no longer a wish-list item.
“This is not really a want anymore. This is a need today,” Schneckloth said.
The department cites increasing call volume, declining membership, and growing administrative burdens on volunteers as major problems. While the setting aside of funds for a paid position is discussed, no mentions of a funding increase are made.
The fire department indicates that it is willing to become a city agency if that is what is required to solve the problem
On May 8, city officials and fire department representatives agree to begin developing a roadmap for the department to become fully city-controlled and the hiring of a full-time chief.
The department repeatedly voices its concerns over burnout, staffing shortages, and administrative burden, though no funding increases are mentioned.
The city says that the fire department was slow to provide documentation. New state legislation requires the study of formalizing a county-wide fire service, adding new concerns to the discussion.
Summer 2025
The fire department provides financial records, bylaws, call statistics and 28E agreement information for legal review by June 16.
Scott Campbell, a councilman at the time, and council members Dan Collins and Ryan Iossi push for additional information before making long-term commitments. Councilman Dockery argues the issue cannot wait.
“We do have some concerns and there’s going to be questions down the road,” said Campbell, “I just think we need to be clear on that. I think that we’re sending mixed signals.”
In July, Benefitted Fire District No. 3 is pulled into the discussion by the city. The district may ultimately have authority over certain fire department operations and personnel decisions, city officials believe.
The responsibility of fire protection, control of personnel decisions, District No. 3’s involvement and whether the city can legally proceed without county involvement are continuously called into question.
Fall 2025
Negotiations continue, but city officials increasingly question whether additional funding would solve the department’s concerns.
City attorney Allison Wright reports that during discussions, department representatives suggested additional money might help, though she disagrees in a later statement.
“Money was not the answer,” Wright said.
City officials continue to disagree over whether the proposed solution addresses the actual problem. While Dockery argues the city must step in to support exhausted volunteers, Collins and Iossi continue to question whether city ownership or a paid position will solve the department’s underlying staffing challenges.
Late 2025 - Early 2026
Processes gradually began to lose momentum as months of discussions fail to produce a consensus on who has authority over the department, whether city control would solve volunteer burnout, how staffing shortages should be addressed and whether additional funding would change operational challenges.
During this period, Schneckloth is fired from his city mechanic position. An administrative law judge later upholds a denial of unemployment benefits after findings that he misused city resources and falsified time records. Schneckloth resigns as fire chief in December, though he later resumes the position.
Summer 2026 to Present
On June 2, fire department members unanimously vote to remain an independent organization rather than become a city department.
Department members cite concerns that major organizational changes could lead to the loss of volunteers at a time when recruiting firefighters is already difficult.
They also voice that they do not want the city to replace their fire chief, Keith Schneckloth. Having been terminated by the city, Schneckloth would be ineligible for hire in the paid fire chief position if the department were to come under the city's control, city officials say.
The vote effectively ends the path that had been under discussion since early 2025.
Following the vote, the fire department requests a substantial increase in funding. The department now asks the city for $766,516 for FY27, $785,954 in FY28 and $805,393 in FY29.
Previously, the department had asked for $476,670, $531,500 and $679,839.
The city expresses frustration, arguing negotiations originally centered on volunteer burnout and administrative workload rather than increased funding demands.
Public statements from both sides become more pointed. The dispute expands beyond governance questions and into a broader public dispute over responsibility, funding and the future of fire protection in Eldridge.