Tennis Pros Or Firefighters?

News Five has learned that after laying off 21 employees last week, the City of Gulf Shores may hire tennis pros.
Among the layoffs were three firefighters.
But the city council is looking at ways to get a tennis program started at the new Gulf Shores Tennis Complex.
Among the ideas council members are discussing: hiring one or two tennis pros to teach and also help maintain the complex.
Gulf Shores City Council member Philip Harris said, "I think its something we need to do. You can't let a facility sit dormant and deteriorate."
Members of a council committee have been looking at what other cities pay tennis pros.
Harris said, "Some of the other models we've looked at were (paying) $15,000 to $20,000 per year and there were city services provided to the program. Then, they (the tennis pros) were allowed to the use the courts for additional lesson time. They would maintain most of that money from their lessons."
When asked if he thought it was worth paying tennis pros when the city was laying off firefighters, Harris said, "Over the last few years, the growth we've been experiencing, especially after Hurricane Ivan, put great demands on a lot of our city departments. And in anticipation of building new fire stations, and the growth out in the area down Fort Morgan, we were anticipating additional fire stations. Over the last two years, we've hired over an additional 24 firefighters, trying to get ahead of the curve. Now, the economy has made a turn and the developments have gone on hold and now we're overstaffed in some departments."
We asked some people in Gulf Shores whether they thought tennis pros should be hired while firefighters are laid off.
Kim Pennington of Gulf Shores, "Absolutely not. What are they going to do when the tourism season is in full swing and we need those firefighters."
David Beviacqua of Gulf Shores said, "I don't know the economic situation of the city. You have to trust your leaders or vote them out of office."
Vickie Prewitt of Gulf Shores said, "I think that the firefighters should be the priority. It would be wonderful if we could do both, but if we have to choose one or the other, the firefighters should get the money."
Councilman Harris said the firefighter layoffs were necessary regardless of what the council decides about the tennis pros.
Harris expects a council committee to have a recommendation in the next thirty days.