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Appomattox volunteer fire chief asks board to forgive loan in exchange for donating ladder truck; board authorizes state PPE grant acceptance
Summary
Fire Chief Jonathan Garrett updated the board on a $14,000 Virginia Department of Fire Programs grant for turnout gear and requested the board consider forgiving some or all of a county loan if the department donates its current ladder truck to Concord Volunteer Fire Department.
Jonathan Garrett, fire chief for Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department, told the board the department was awarded a $14,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs to replace aging personal protective equipment (PPE). Garrett said the grant is pass‑through state money that does not require a local match and would fund roughly four sets of turnout gear, which must be replaced every ten years.
Separately, Garrett updated the board on delivery and training for a new ladder truck expected in late April or May and said the department had obtained state‑funded training for apparatus operators. He reported efforts to sell the department’s existing aerial apparatus had not produced a buyer despite outreach to brokers and nearby departments. Garrett proposed that the board forgive 50% or all of the county loan used to buy the new vehicle if the department donates the current ladder truck to Concord Volunteer Fire Department. He said Concord would prioritize the truck for Appomattox County second‑due responses, participate in joint training and could improve ISO ratings for parts of the county, potentially lowering homeowners’ insurance in some areas.
Board members thanked volunteers and asked staff to analyze the written proposal. The board did vote separately to authorize the county administrator to sign the state fire programs grant acceptance certificate so the department could accept the $14,000 award.
Why it matters: The PPE grant funds immediate replacement of safety equipment; the loan forgiveness/donation proposal, if approved, would change the county’s debt repayment plan for the fire department and affect mutual‑aid resources in the region.
Next steps: County staff will review Garrett’s written proposal on loan forgiveness and donation and return with any recommended terms; the county administrator was authorized to sign the PPE grant acceptance certificate.
