Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Services Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Minot council declines to submit SAFER grant after federal cost-share changes
Summary
The council voted 4-2 to direct staff not to submit a FEMA SAFER grant application after the program's updated cost-share requires local matches (25% in years 1-2 and 65% in year 3). The city had considered adding six firefighters under the grant but council members expressed concern about the long-term budget impact.
The Minot City Council voted 4-2 to direct the city manager and fire chief not to submit a FEMA SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant application after federal program changes increased the city's required local cost share.
Chief Kelly told the council the SAFER grant opportunity had returned after delays and that the latest award terms include a required city match of roughly 25% in years one and two and 65% in year three. Chief Kelly and city staff provided estimated local cost shares of approximately $124,000 for year one, $131,000 for year two and $362,000 for year three if the grant were awarded and fully staffed as proposed.
The council had previously discussed using SAFER funding to add personnel to reduce response pressures identified in a fire staffing study. The grant application under consideration proposed adding six firefighters (six hires are scheduled in groups of three to match shift coverage). Several council members and the city manager said the changed cost-share materially altered the long-term fiscal calculus.
"This is a significant change from the earlier expectation of a largely federally funded boost in staffing," City Manager Harold Stewart said. "Squeezing this into future budgets is not going to be easy and could require reprioritizing other department budgets."
Alderman Fuller said he supported firefighter staffing but objected to the timing and the prospective burden on future budgets, calling the later-year cost exposure "tough" given current budget pressures. Alderman Blessum and others cited the same concern: short-term grant relief that creates longer-term obligations the city may not be able to sustain without cuts elsewhere.
Chief Kelly said the department would pursue the grant only with council support and that staff had engaged an outside consultant (Lexipol) to assist in grant preparation.
After discussion, a motion to instruct the city manager and fire chief not to submit the SAFER application passed 4-2, with Aldermen Olsen and Mayor Janser recorded as dissenting.
Council members and staff said the door remains open to reapply in future cycles if the program terms change or the city identifies a budget path to absorb the local share. The council also noted the SAFER opportunity recurs and the city could revisit it when budget conditions differ.
