ANCHORAGE-- Assembly chambers were full for the second public hearing on 2013 proposed budgets for the Municipality of Anchorage Tuesday night. (10/30)

People testifying expressed concern over fire department cuts; mainly Eagle River truck 11.

"The people of Eagle River and of Anchorage have voted for all of these rigs," said Michael Dennis, a concerned citizen. "To cut any of them would be extremely dangerous and would be a huge cut to the community."

To ease concern, Mayor Sullivan reassured audience members  there would be no fire station closures. "There's no cuts to fire stations," said Sullivan. "There might be a piece of equipment at a fire station that might be idle on a given day, but I want to make sure there's not that misnomer that stations are being closed, because that's simply not the case," he said.

The possibility of any equipment closures does not sit well with everyone."You've paid for these rigs they're here for you, for your safety," said Dennis. "Having extra rigs in the station is also for the fire department and the firefighter's safety."

Sullivan and his administration are in ongoing discussions with the Fire Union to see if they can compromise.  "We're seeing if we can't come to meeting of the minds on how to save money and keep those apparatuses open," Sullivan said.

Sullivan says the assembly amendment deadline is Wednesday. The final vote for the budget is set for November 13th.

Other items on Tuesday's agenda included $250,000 for possible port litigation and the decision to sell the John Thomas building. The assembly unanimously approved the port litigation funding and on a 5-6 vote the assembly decided to go ahead with the Thomas Building sell.