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Rescue squad requests county share for station upfit, new equipment; county share estimated at about $73,000
Summary
Rescue squad representatives asked the county for increased funding to upfit the old North Fire Station for equipment storage and to buy replacement rescue gear. They described a plan split 50/50 with the city and listed equipment and grant mechanics; the board did not act on a funding award at the meeting.
Rescue squad representatives presented a budget request that includes upfitting the old North Fire Station for use as covered storage for boats, ATVs and other non‑daily equipment, plus equipment replacement and new rescue gear.
County staff and the squad said the request is intended to be split roughly 50/50 with the city; staff estimated the county’s share at about $73,000, an increase of about $13,000 from the current allocation. “By calculating that ... about 73,000 total if we split it with the city,” a county speaker said.
The squad said the old North Fire Station was flooded in a past hurricane and is not suitable for daily operations without extensive repairs. FEMA requirements and ongoing flood risk make returning daily operations impractical, the squad said; asbestos has been abated. A representative said the squad’s plan is to use the building only as covered warehouse space for insured equipment and to leave response vehicles stationed at the active fire station.
Specific budget items discussed included a capital outlay to upfit the building (roof and bay doors referenced), an equipment replacement line of roughly $35,000 to replace air packs and to add airbags on both trucks, and a $7,000 bus‑and‑truck rescue kit. The squad also said it purchased a new Zodiac inflatable boat to replace one that dry‑rotted after prolonged sun exposure.
The squad described grant mechanics for equipment purchases: the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) awards grants that the squad must buy equipment for up front and then be reimbursed; the squad had previously included a line in its budget to accommodate those matches but removed it this year and said it would seek budget action when and if grants are awarded.
A county official noted that if the city retained ownership of the building, flood insurance could be significant — one figure cited for a past flood insurance bill was $47,000 per year — whereas a nonprofit occupying the space would not necessarily carry the same building insurance. Commissioners did not approve or deny the request at the meeting; staff said the item would be handled in the upcoming budget discussions.
No formal vote on a funding award was recorded during the rescue squad presentation.
