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Hendersonville board approves application for FEMA SAFER grant, amends request to seek nine firefighters
Summary
The Board unanimously authorized staff to apply for a FEMA SAFER grant to fund additional firefighters and amended the resolution to request nine positions (previously listed as six). If awarded, the grant would cover three years; the city would assume costs thereafter.
Hendersonville’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Jan. 28 approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the board unanimously amended the application to request nine firefighters rather than six.
Alderman Garten moved the resolution to apply for SAFER funding and Alderman Goodwin seconded. During committee review city staff and aldermen discussed staffing shortfalls in the fire department; data presented to the Public Safety Committee showed multiple days when staffing was lean because of injuries, illnesses, vacancies and training. Alderman Goodwin moved an amendment to correct the resolution’s text from six to nine firefighters; Alderman Garten seconded the amendment and the board approved it unanimously.
City staff said the SAFER award, if awarded, would pay the nine positions for three years with no local cost during that federal period; after year three the city would be responsible for the positions. Staff estimated the annual salary-and-benefit cost per position at levels that could total about $100,000 for the package (presented as a high-end planning estimate) and said the grant application would seek appropriate funding to cover salaries and benefits. Fire department leaders said hiring additional personnel would reduce overtime and pressure created by vacancies and leave.
Staff described the timing for the federal grant process as uncertain: the city planned to submit the application by the end of the month, with awards typically taking several weeks to months to be announced. The board’s authorization is for the city to submit the application; actual hiring and budget obligations would depend on award notification and subsequent budget action.
The board approved the amended resolution by unanimous voice vote.
