Wilson County commissioners approve rescue-equipment purchases and pursue hazmat grant amid push for more firefighters

Wilson County commissioners approved a bulk purchase of water‑rescue and fire equipment and agreed to seek a federal/state hazardous materials preparedness grant, while fire officials urged the county to budget for more firefighters and station changes.

The county approved a packaged procurement that county staff described as including two new boats, trailers and ancillary gear and the equipment necessary to outfit five new engines. County staff said the purchase will come from the capital projects fund; staff reported prior attempts to secure grant funding had been unsuccessful. Commissioners voted to approve the purchase during the director’s report; the motion carried.

Fire leadership also said the equipment purchase will help the department reach state certification for water rescue and hazardous‑materials response. Separately, the commission approved pursuing the Hazardous Materials Preparedness Program grant of $50,000; county staff told commissioners the county would cover the 20 percent local match from the department’s training fund, a share they estimated would be “a little less than”…