Warsaw City Council Monday night approved a $48,000 appropriation for the Warsaw Fire Department to purchase technical rescue equipment.
The funds will come from the city's fire cumulative budget and will need to be approved by the Department of Local Government Finance, according to Mayor Ernie Wiggins."The equipment's primary use will be for building and trench collapse rescue operations," said WFD Chief Mike Rice.
The WFD has recognized the need for this rescue equipment through research, risk assessment and training, he said.
The specialized equipment includes ventilation fans, dewatering pumps, air shores and breathing equipment.
Rice said areas the equipment could be used for include open earth trenches, confined space emergencies, building construction accidents, industrial accidents and collapsed buildings.
"In the past year we have experienced three incidents where this equipment could have been utilized," Rice said.
The council also reviewed a letter from Rice regarding the fire department's request to enter into a fire truck replacement program.
"Over the past 15 years, our fleet of fire truck engines has declined from four down to two," Rice said.
"WFD has one of the oldest fleet of fire trucks in the county, and when compared to similar size communities, our trucks are some of the oldest."
The department has a 1991 truck that was out of service for 10 days this year, and a 1986 truck where if it would have a major breakdown, it would not be cost effective to make repairs, Rice said.
R.W. Bassett & Associates performed a study on the current fire trucks and made recommendations on how to make the fleet safe and dependable.
The council also reviewed letters from Warsaw Police Chief Perry Hunter dated March 13 to Lt. Tony Faucett, Detective Sgt. Steve Adang and Patrolman Bryan Sherwin.
Hunter thanked the WPD employees for their efforts Jan. 22 in working with the Howard County Criminal Justice Center, Kokomo, for assisting solving a stolen gun case.
"It is important that we continue this spirit of cooperation with other jurisdiction police agencies for the common goal of fighting crime," Hunter said in the letter.
The center was investigating a residential burglary Jan. 22 where numerous guns were stolen. During the search of a Kokomo residence, two suspects were apprehended hiding in the attic along with a stolen revolver from the burglary.
The suspects admitted that most of the stolen guns were sold to an individual in the Warsaw area.
Faucett, Sherwin and Hargrove assisted the center in recovering the remaining stolen rifles and obtained the suspect's statements in a Warsaw resident's home.
The council also:
n Approved an ordinance for $8,625 for the Warsaw Park Department for purchase of a used garbage truck that was destroyed by a fire.
n Reviewed information for a brick paver fundraiser for the City-County Athletic Complex.
n Reviewed an annual report for 2007 from Kosciusko Development Inc.
