The Midland County Board approved a CDBG budget modification Nov. 20 that moves $121,475 from a previously planned recreation-park improvement project to buy self-contained breathing apparatus units for the Lewistown Fire Department.

At a public hearing, staff explained Lewistown Borough had concluded the rec-park project was not viable because the park sits partly in a floodplain and floodway. "We will use 2023 and 2024 funds that we already have to purchase as many as we can, and then we've made a request for 2025 funding to complete that to get up to 35," staff said.

The requested modification abandons the rec-park line in the 2024 CPD funding and redirects the full $121,475 to a multiyear effort to acquire SCBA units. Officials said the county previously approved moving 2023 funds for this purpose and will combine those allocations with the 2024 modification; a further 2025 allocation has been requested to complete the targeted purchase of up to 35 units.

After hearing no public comments or questions, the board closed the hearing and voted to approve the budget change.

Next steps: staff will proceed with procurement using the consolidated CDBG funds and continue coordination with the Lewistown Borough and fire department about unit specifications and delivery timing.