02 City Council (8/19/03) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular City Council Meeting August 19, 2003 Page 2 unless the grant is received. Mayor Fendley asked if these things need to be replaced whether or not you receive the grant. Chief Grooms said he had been informed that after December 31, 2003 they will no longer be producing this model of equipment. Chief Grooms said they have a window of opportunity here and they have got to get out of the packs we are using. It is not that the packs are not workable, there are better and safer equipment on the market that they really need to get for the firefighters. Mayor Fendley asked if he had a contingency if they do not get the grant. Chief Grooms advised that out of this $271,978.00 he has informed the City Manager that he needs $42,000.00 if we don't get the grant to go ahead and start buying this equipment and start a gradual replacement of this equipment. If the Fire Department gets the grant they will do a complete change. If they are awarded this grant, they are taking 50 of their old packs and donating them to the fire departments out in the county. The $42,000.00 would buy 8 packs and 10 cylinders. Chief Grooms said that one problem this presents is the Fire Department will have apparatus with the old style SCBA and apparatus with the newer SCBA. The department will have to then train firefighters to use both types of the SCBA. Chief Grooms explained that last year they were-ill prepared in the filing of the grant. After they went through the process and talked to people who have also gone through the grant process they found that they had not completed the application properly. This year they went back through the whole process again and he feels that they might get the grant. Councilwoman Neeley asked if there was money that could be shifted to purchase more equipment if they did not get the grant. Chief Grooms said he would like to take any money that he might have left over and buy whatever packs he can buy. It is his understanding that any air pack that they purchase now that money can be contributed to match funds that they have to give if and when they get the grants. He said the SCBA is one of their biggest priorities at this time because they have to get out of what they are using. They have five years to this, so he has to start a gradual process. If they get the grant then it is a wash, and it will take him a while buying a few at a time.