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Stevensville approves $1,800 payment for grant writer to join multi‑agency FEMA radio application
Summary
The Town Council unanimously approved a $1,800 payment to a grant writer to join a multi‑agency FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant application that would buy radios for local departments. Town staff said the grant, if awarded, would require a small local match and could provide 21 handheld radios for Stevensville.
The Stevensville Town Council approved a payment of $1,800 to Grandmasters Incorporated to cover the town’s share of a grant‑writer fee for a multi‑agency FEMA Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) radio equipment application.
Council members heard from Jeff, a town staff member who presented the request. “We’re in need of radio communication with the fire department, especially our handhelds,” Jeff said, describing frequency and bandwidth changes that have left the department’s handheld radios unable to communicate across some fire scenes. He said Stevensville joined a December application led by the rural fire district alongside Florence and other local departments.
Jeff told the council the full application seeks approximately 27 radios at an estimated retail price of $5,000 per unit, producing a total grant request near $635,000. Stevensville’s portion of that package is for 21 radios. The town’s immediate request was for approval to pay the $1,800 grant‑writer fee now; if the town is awarded the grant it would also owe a local match. Jeff said the additional local match would be billed to the town only if the award is made.
Council discussion focused on technical need, timing and budget authority. Council members and the finance officer confirmed the town’s current budget has funds available in the account identified by staff; Robert, the finance officer, said there was approximately $14,000 remaining in the account and that the budget would be reprioritized if necessary. Several council members criticized the process timeline and asked why the town was asked to pay the claim before the request was presented to the council. Jeff said the grant was submitted around the federal deadline and that the rural fire district had paid the initial fee and asked the town to split the expense.
A Stevensville resident, Dwayne Gixland, asked about radio life cycle and whether there would be any service/maintenance contract; Jeff said the application does not include an ongoing maintenance contract and named several manufacturers under consideration (Motorola, BendixKing and Harris).
Council Member Brown said approving the payment was necessary to support volunteers: “I personally would not be able to live with myself if one of our volunteers got hurt because we didn’t approve this.” The motion to approve the $1,800 payment passed 3‑0.
The town’s potential future costs were discussed but not finalized. Staff repeatedly told the council that additional matching dollars would only be required if the grant were awarded: the $1,800 pays the grant writer now; the match (discussed in council questions and staff estimates) would be an additional local expense if and when the award is made. Jeff said he would return to the council with final match figures if the town is awarded funds.
What happens next: Stevensville’s payment will allow the grant‑writing team to remain in the federal review process. Staff said the town will only incur further costs if and when a grant award requires a local match and the council authorizes that expenditure.
