Radio Grant Could Be Big Benefit To County Fire Depts.
February 19, 2021 at 11:36 p.m.
By David [email protected]
That’s why a recently submitted Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) application to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for radios for all of the county’s fire departments is so important.
“The AFG that we had been talking about, that has been submitted, it was submitted for just under $1 million,” Rock said. “And the intent here is that it can only be used for fire department radios.”
If the grant is awarded, Rock said the order would come through county government and then the fire departments would be required to sign an agreement that they would pay back whatever their portion is in the grant years of 2021, 2022 and 2023. The grant requires a 10% match.
“Now, this thing actually could go a couple of different ways. If we get the award, then we’re only paying 10 cents on the dollar. But, if we do not get the award, then that’s obviously going to change what the fire departments can afford to purchase. So, nothing is going to be done here until after we hear if the award is given,” Rock said, noting he has no concept of when that might be.
County Commissioner Cary Groninger asked, “You said that the 10% – and correct me if I’m wrong – that’s what we had talked about, that we were going to use some Rainy Day Funds for these departments that couldn’t afford their 10%, or that’s for if we don’t get the grant for the radios?”
Rock said it was his understanding that regardless of whether they get the grant or not, “The radios would be purchased by the county and then the agreements would still be the payback over that same three-year period.”
Bob Conley, commissioner, said that would be easier on the fire departments’ budgets.
“I did some research when I was writing this grant,” Rock said. “And, if you just look at the volunteer (fire departments) – we have 11 volunteer departments in the county – and if you look at their average budget – and I don’t have the numbers directly in front of me – but it basically boils down to $2,600 per firefighter. That pays for all of their gear. That pays for their current communications. It also maintains a station, all of the equipment and pays insurance payments, and you guys know what that’s like. But all of that stuff comes out of that $2,600 per man.”
For what Kosciusko County is getting, “that’s a heck of a deal. That is one heck of a deal,” Rock said.
He then made sure the Commissioners were aware that his counterpart in Marshall County has some medical issues that will have him out of commission for the next several months. The Marshall County EMA director has asked Rock and the Fulton County EMA director to cover for Marshall County during that time.
“Most of it is going to be phone calls, commissioners’ questions and answers, something like that,” Rock said. “If they do have a major incident in Marshall County, either Fulton County or myself will be going over to Marshall County to help manage that, and I just wanted to make you guys aware of that ahead of time.”
If there’s an incident involving a couple of counties, or more than one incident, Rock said there’s Elkhart, Marshall and Fulton counties to do whatever is needed. “This goes back to the district concept. We’ve been in District 2 for 15 years now, and we work well together. If need be, we can pull from Pulaski County as well, and all of them will be right there, unless they’re being impacted by the same issue,” Rock said.
In other business, the Commissioners:
• Approved County Systems Administrator Bob Momeyer’s request for $15,700 for equipment for videoconferencing in 11 rooms of the county courthouse and Justice Building.
• Approved a resolution presented by county attorney Ed Ormsby to authorize County Administrator Marsha McSherry to sign closing documents and transfer funds for purchase of real estate.
The county is purchasing property off North CR 400E in Syracuse from Fisher Farms Rental LLC for $27,475. A communications tower will be placed on the site.
• Approved a request from County Surveyor Mike Kissinger – presented by McSherry – to put safety lighting on a vehicle the county surveyor’s office uses. The cost from Copsgear is $1,203 and was the lowest of two bids.
• Approved for Donald DeWitt to serve another four-year term on the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer Board.
• Heard from McSherry that the Justice Building security equipment was being installed Friday and the entrance facing Lake Street would be back open to the public on Monday.
“So it’ll have a whole different look, it’ll be a lot different, but it will be open to the public,” she said.
McSherry then thanked the county’s maintenance staff – Ben Johnson, Howard Prater and Mike Clark – for doing a great job on removing snow from the sidewalks and parking lots, along with all of the other responsibilities they have.
“So kudos to them,” McSherry said, then thanking Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty and his employees for the great job they’ve done this week with all the snow. The Commissioners agreed.
The next Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 2 in the old courtroom of the county courthouse.
That’s why a recently submitted Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) application to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for radios for all of the county’s fire departments is so important.
“The AFG that we had been talking about, that has been submitted, it was submitted for just under $1 million,” Rock said. “And the intent here is that it can only be used for fire department radios.”
If the grant is awarded, Rock said the order would come through county government and then the fire departments would be required to sign an agreement that they would pay back whatever their portion is in the grant years of 2021, 2022 and 2023. The grant requires a 10% match.
“Now, this thing actually could go a couple of different ways. If we get the award, then we’re only paying 10 cents on the dollar. But, if we do not get the award, then that’s obviously going to change what the fire departments can afford to purchase. So, nothing is going to be done here until after we hear if the award is given,” Rock said, noting he has no concept of when that might be.
County Commissioner Cary Groninger asked, “You said that the 10% – and correct me if I’m wrong – that’s what we had talked about, that we were going to use some Rainy Day Funds for these departments that couldn’t afford their 10%, or that’s for if we don’t get the grant for the radios?”
Rock said it was his understanding that regardless of whether they get the grant or not, “The radios would be purchased by the county and then the agreements would still be the payback over that same three-year period.”
Bob Conley, commissioner, said that would be easier on the fire departments’ budgets.
“I did some research when I was writing this grant,” Rock said. “And, if you just look at the volunteer (fire departments) – we have 11 volunteer departments in the county – and if you look at their average budget – and I don’t have the numbers directly in front of me – but it basically boils down to $2,600 per firefighter. That pays for all of their gear. That pays for their current communications. It also maintains a station, all of the equipment and pays insurance payments, and you guys know what that’s like. But all of that stuff comes out of that $2,600 per man.”
For what Kosciusko County is getting, “that’s a heck of a deal. That is one heck of a deal,” Rock said.
He then made sure the Commissioners were aware that his counterpart in Marshall County has some medical issues that will have him out of commission for the next several months. The Marshall County EMA director has asked Rock and the Fulton County EMA director to cover for Marshall County during that time.
“Most of it is going to be phone calls, commissioners’ questions and answers, something like that,” Rock said. “If they do have a major incident in Marshall County, either Fulton County or myself will be going over to Marshall County to help manage that, and I just wanted to make you guys aware of that ahead of time.”
If there’s an incident involving a couple of counties, or more than one incident, Rock said there’s Elkhart, Marshall and Fulton counties to do whatever is needed. “This goes back to the district concept. We’ve been in District 2 for 15 years now, and we work well together. If need be, we can pull from Pulaski County as well, and all of them will be right there, unless they’re being impacted by the same issue,” Rock said.
In other business, the Commissioners:
• Approved County Systems Administrator Bob Momeyer’s request for $15,700 for equipment for videoconferencing in 11 rooms of the county courthouse and Justice Building.
• Approved a resolution presented by county attorney Ed Ormsby to authorize County Administrator Marsha McSherry to sign closing documents and transfer funds for purchase of real estate.
The county is purchasing property off North CR 400E in Syracuse from Fisher Farms Rental LLC for $27,475. A communications tower will be placed on the site.
• Approved a request from County Surveyor Mike Kissinger – presented by McSherry – to put safety lighting on a vehicle the county surveyor’s office uses. The cost from Copsgear is $1,203 and was the lowest of two bids.
• Approved for Donald DeWitt to serve another four-year term on the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer Board.
• Heard from McSherry that the Justice Building security equipment was being installed Friday and the entrance facing Lake Street would be back open to the public on Monday.
“So it’ll have a whole different look, it’ll be a lot different, but it will be open to the public,” she said.
McSherry then thanked the county’s maintenance staff – Ben Johnson, Howard Prater and Mike Clark – for doing a great job on removing snow from the sidewalks and parking lots, along with all of the other responsibilities they have.
“So kudos to them,” McSherry said, then thanking Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty and his employees for the great job they’ve done this week with all the snow. The Commissioners agreed.
The next Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 2 in the old courtroom of the county courthouse.
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