The Scott County Redevelopment Board voted to approve $48,269.14 to help the Johnson Fire Department purchase modern rescue tools, board members said at the board’s Dec. 12 meeting.

The funding was authorized after Dwayne, a representative of the Johnson Fire Department, described the department’s current equipment as outdated and limited. “It's 27 years old,” Dwayne said of the department’s portable rescue set, which he said “won't do what the big one to do off the truck.” He told the board the department averages about “250 medical calls and car wrecks. 10 fires a year,” and that newer tools would expand what the volunteers can do in crash and rural-rescue situations.

The board discussed how the department’s portable set is limited by reach and capacity — Dwayne said the old kit has only about 50 feet of hoses and that many rescues occur off-road where trucks cannot get close. Board members also noted the county’s broader support of volunteer departments this year, including grants and county funds that led to roughly $300,000 in new gear for several departments.

Board member John Watts made the motion to approve the purchase; John Collins seconded the motion. The motion was read at the meeting as: “It’s for $48,269.14.” The board approved the purchase by voice vote.

Board members and the Johnson Fire representative also discussed the department’s funding and staffing. Dwayne said the department is trustee-funded at about $42,000 a year, with roughly $20,000 of that going to insurance. He described volunteer recruitment as an ongoing challenge and said the department typically can reliably count on about seven volunteers for a given call.

The board’s discussion touched on how newer equipment may be shared countywide as departments upgrade and pass gear to others, and members urged the Johnson Fire representative to “shop it around” if the department later chooses to sell or pass on older equipment.

Votes at a glance

- Purchase for Johnson Fire Department rescue equipment — Motion by John Watts; second by John Collins; approved by voice vote; amount: $48,269.14.
- Acceptance of meeting minutes (administrative) — Approved 5-0 earlier in the meeting.

What this means

Board members described the action as a one-time equipment purchase drawn from redevelopment resources the board manages. The approved tools are intended to extend rescue capability where trucks cannot reach and to replace a decades-old portable set. No ordinance, statute, or other regulatory change was proposed; this was an allocation of board funds.

Next steps and related items

At the meeting the Johnson representative and board members discussed mutual-aid uses and the logistics of passing older gear to other departments. The board also noted other county projects and funding requests under review, including a planned follow-up on an invoice from Dan Christiani’s group, for which the board asked staff to seek clarification before payment.

The board adjourned after closing routine business; members said the Dec. 12 meeting was the last meeting of the year.