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Hoover council authorizes application for FEMA staffing grant to add transport staffing
Summary
Council approved a resolution authorizing the Hoover Fire Department to apply for the FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant; councilors urged restoring personnel to engine companies after staffing transports.
The Hoover City Council unanimously authorized the Hoover Fire Department to apply for the FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, a measure the council said could help restore ambulance transport staffing that has stretched fire company resources.
The resolution (8513-25) authorizes Mayor Frank Brocato and Fire Chief Bentley to take all necessary administrative steps to apply for the grant. Councilor Casey Middlebrooks praised the fire department's response when private ambulance services became unavailable several years ago and urged support for an additional transport unit. "I hope you get this FEMA staffing grant to get us up to 5 transport units," Middlebrooks said, noting the department had added transport coverage by reassigning personnel from engine companies.
Middlebrooks also urged the council to restore staffing to engine companies that supplied personnel for transports. "I'm gonna recommend that you ask for 7 more [positions] than budget season," he said, arguing that engine crews had been disadvantaged by the temporary reassignments.
The council record shows the motion to approve the resolution passed on a voice vote. The resolution directs city officials to proceed with the application; federal award, if any, will be subject to FEMA approval and grant terms.
No appropriation was made at the meeting; councilors discussed the operational impacts of transport staffing and urged future budget consideration to replenish engine-company staffing if the grant does not fully resolve personnel needs.
