County staff asked commissioners at a Miami County study session to reallocate $8,000 in Paola Fire’s 2025 capital budget to equip Rural Engine 5 with extrication equipment and to approve a separate purchase of 10 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) bottles, which staff priced at $12,263.20 plus shipping.

The request came as Paola’s command staff determined they no longer need two items that had been in the 2025 capital plan: a $3,000 generator and a $5,000 turbo-draft eductor. Mark Whalen, rural fire coordinator, said Paola’s brush truck can already draft water from ponds and the command staff “decided not to proceed with that purchase.”

Whalen told commissioners that the county would move the county-owned extrication tool set from the heavy rescue to Rural Engine 5 so crews can both fight fires and conduct vehicle extrications without waiting for multiple apparatus. “By moving the county set to the engine it will give us more flexibility on roll calls,” Whalen said. He described two storage options for the spreaders and cutters: a stationary circular mount that would cost about $3,200 or a slide-out mount at about $4,400, plus collapsible extrication struts for vehicle stabilization.

Separately, Whalen said Paola requested purchase of 10 air bottles compatible with the county’s Scott air packs; the quote from the local supplier, Feld Fire, was $12,263.20 plus shipping. He said the bottles are proprietary to the Scott distributor for the area and that the cost and shipping overage could be covered by the existing Paola equipment line item if necessary.

Whalen provided technical details about the air bottles’ lifecycle: manufacturers’ hydrostatic testing occurs every five years and, after the fourth hydrostatic test (about 20 years), bottles must be retired; a full bottle on-scene typically supplies about 30 minutes of air, with individual use varying. Whalen also said he would check department inventory and report the county’s total number of SCBA bottles at the next board meeting.

No formal motion or vote was recorded at the study session; Whalen asked for permission to proceed and for the board to consider the reallocation and purchases. County staff said any small overage could be absorbed by existing line items and that they would provide inventory and budget details at the next business meeting.

Next steps: staff will provide a written inventory of SCBA bottles and a budget recommendation at the upcoming board meeting so commissioners can consider formal approval.