Committee forwards volunteer pay increase, accepts $11,800 Enbridge grant for fire equipment

The First Response Services Committee voted to forward a request to raise volunteer emergency responder pay to the county budget with a favorable recommendation and heard updates on recent grants for equipment and training.

A fire department representative asked the committee to consider increasing volunteer pay from $30 per call to $50 per call, noting the rate has not changed since February 2016: “I ask you to consider, raising the volunteers' pay from $30 a call to $50 a call. We asked for this increase last year and did not get it... The volunteer pay has not changed, since 02/2016.”

A committee member moved to forward the request to the budget with a favorable recommendation: “I'll move to forward it to a budget with a favorable recommendation,” the member said. The chair called for the vote and recorded ayes; the motion was forwarded.

Separately, the fire department representative told the committee the department requested funds from Enbridge in the form of a grant for radio upgrades, gas-detection meters and gated hydrant valves and had received confirmation of award: “So we'll get $11,800 from Enbridge this year to take care of those needs without dipping into our county reserve.”

Rescue leadership reported a previously discussed grant award of $52,100 and said the unit is getting quotes for new protective gear and equipment. Rescue staff also said members are scheduled for swift-water training and had joined a mutual-aid training organization to lower training costs.

The committee did not adopt a final budget at the meeting; it forwarded the volunteer-pay request to the county budget process for further consideration. Other budget items discussed included brush-truck repairs expected back by month-end and routine pump inspections completed in March.