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Seward County fire chief urges funding to restore staffing, repair Cimarron station and plan apparatus purchases
Summary
Fire department leaders told commissioners the proposed 2026 operating budget is a little over $1.5 million and asked the county to restore a sixth paid firefighter position, fund repairs at the Cimarron station and begin long‑lead planning to buy new multi‑purpose engines.
The Seward County fire chief told the commission the department’s proposed 2026 operating budget is “a little over $1,500,000” and asked the board to restore a paid sixth firefighter position lost to the 2025 revenue neutral rate.
The chief said the department has improved training, staffing and response times in recent years but warned of a recurring wildfire cycle and aging apparatus. “2027 will be our year in this county. We will burn this county,” he said, adding that the department is trying to prepare for a historically heavy fire year.
Why it matters: department leaders said restoring one paid firefighter would return daily on‑duty staffing to two firefighters per station, seven days a week, improving daytime and weekend coverage for structure and wildfire responses. They warned relying on cash carryover and reserves is unsustainable given equipment and facility needs.
Details and debate: the chief outlined three near‑term budget priorities. First, repairs to the Cimarron Fire Station tied to an HVAC failure, water leaks and black mold; staff proposed a contingency line of roughly $100,000 for initial repairs and mold mitigation. Second, an equipment and ladder truck program for Kismet and other stations: the department requested about $60,000 toward smaller capital equipment (air packs and related items) and said corporate donations had totaled roughly $5,500 toward a $63,000 equipment target. Third, long‑range apparatus planning: the chief said Rosenbauer Mavericks would be the preferred platform and estimated the replacement cycle would require purchase of engines and a tanker costing roughly $1.8 million in total, with an estimated annual lease‑purchase payment near $258,000 at 7% interest if the county uses financing.
Staff described staffing trends: the department currently relies on a mix of paid, reserve and volunteer firefighters; recent recruiting activity has produced few volunteer applicants despite outreach at career events. The chief said the department historically has depended on volunteers and on a group chat/calendar system among reserves, and that adding the sixth paid firefighter would materially improve reliability. He said adding that position would increase the county’s mills by an estimated 0.758 (the chief’s estimate presented to commissioners).
Commission questions focused on cost, impacts to the county mill rate and alternatives such as lease‑purchase timing and grant prospects. The chief said several federal grants applied for in recent years—AFG and SAFER—had not resulted in awards and that the department does not expect a near‑term federal staffing grant award. He asked commissioners for a consensus to begin scheduling apparatus with the manufacturer because production lead times are currently long (multiple years).
What comes next: commissioners will consider the fire department’s requests as part of the countywide budget process. The chief requested that the commission “hold dear that sixth person,” noting it significantly affects daily staffing and response capabilities.
