Germantown committee accepts county EMS grant, state firefighting grant and approves related equipment purchases; amends outdoor entertainment permit rules

The Germantown Public Safety Committee on March 3 voted to accept a $177,000 Washington County Emergency Medical Service and Fire Grant, to accept a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Fire Protection grant of $5,429.20, to approve a 50/50 purchase of wildland firefighting personal protective equipment, to approve two temporary Class B retail licenses, and to adopt ordinance language governing suspension or revocation of outdoor entertainment permits.

The committee’s acceptance of the county grant authorizes the village to receive the money; committee members did not allocate the funds to specific purchases at the meeting. Chief Delaine told the committee the department plans to use about $150,000 of the $177,000 toward an incident-command vehicle equipped with radios and communications equipment but said the final allocation was not set. “The funds are basically allowed to be used for anything within the fire and EMS department from salaries to equipment,” Chief Delaine said.

Why it matters: the county grant and state DNR grant provide one-time revenue the village can direct toward staffing, communications and wildland firefighting gear. Committee members emphasized acceptance of the grants does not itself commit the village to a specific purchase until additional budgeting or procurement steps occur.

Committee action and details - Washington County EMS/Fire grant: $177,000. The committee accepted the grant; Chief Delaine said roughly $150,000 is being considered for an incident-command vehicle equipped with radios and other communications gear, but the committee did not approve a finalized expenditure at the meeting. The resolution was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. - Wisconsin DNR Forest Fire Protection grant: $5,429.20 (50/50 match required). The committee accepted the grant and then approved using the grant plus the village’s 50% match to buy wildland firefighting gear to replace structural turnout gear for brush/grass incidents. The purchase will be paid from the department’s protective-equipment line item. - Purchase of wildland personal protective equipment: authorized; village will provide the 50% match budgeted in the department’s protective-equipment line. - Temporary Class B retailer licenses: approved for Kiwanis of Germantown (Taste of Germantown event) and the Mid Moraine Municipal Association dinner at the Germantown Senior Center (March 26, 2025). - Ordinance amending section 12.03 (outdoor entertainment permits): the committee approved revised language that changes how complaints about outdoor entertainment permits are handled, routing complaints to the appropriate department for investigation and allowing the committee or village board to require a hearing; a staff member presenting the change said the revised language is intended to reduce repeated, meritless complaints while preserving an avenue for resident concerns.

Quotes and context Chief Delaine, describing the county grant: “The funds are basically allowed to be used for anything within the fire and EMS department from salaries to equipment.”

Committee members and staff emphasized that accepting grants does not constitute final allocation. Trustee Baum said the ordinance revision addressed his concern about repeated complaints by giving an official a role in deciding whether to pursue a hearing.

Ending All motions listed above were approved by voice vote at the committee meeting and will appear on the Village Board agenda as appropriate for final action or implementation steps. Several items accepted by the committee require later procurement or budget steps before purchases or disbursements are finalized.