The Lock Haven City Council convened on December 9, 2024, to discuss various topics, primarily focusing on the fire department's budget and operations. The meeting began with a review of the fire department's financial allocations, revealing that 73% of expenditures are dedicated to wages, with 14% for obligations and a mere 0.25% for training and education, which is largely funded by external sources.

Fire Chief Chip Wood presented an overview of the department's accomplishments, noting the retention of a Class 3 ISO rating, shared by only 3,000 of the 40,000 fire departments in the United States. This rating reflects the department's effectiveness, with 90% of structure fires contained to their room of origin. The department also conducted 34 public education programs and completed over 600 hours of training.

A significant concern raised was the doubling of maintenance costs over the past two years, attributed to increased call volumes and an aging fleet, with some apparatus over 36 years old. Chief Wood proposed exploring insurance reimbursement for emergency services, suggesting that funds could be recovered without additional costs to taxpayers. However, some council members expressed reservations about this approach, emphasizing that residents already contribute significantly through taxes.

The discussion also touched on the rising costs of insurance for city-owned properties and equipment, with a notable increase in premiums due to recent catastrophic events. The council debated the necessity of reviewing insurance policies to potentially lower costs.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the fire department's achievements and ongoing challenges, particularly regarding budget management and resource allocation. The council agreed to gather more information on insurance reimbursement options to assess their viability for future funding. The next steps will involve further discussions and evaluations of the fire department's financial strategies in the coming months.