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New Kent County to draft SAFER grant application to add 15 firefighters, board defers final approval
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Summary
County fire chief asked the Board of Supervisors for permission to prepare a FEMA SAFER grant application to hire 15 firefighters to bring three stations into compliance with national staffing standards; the board agreed to let staff prepare a draft application but deferred committing county matching funds until the budget process.
New Kent County’s fire chief asked the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 to approve preparing an application for the federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant that would fund 15 new firefighter positions aimed at bringing three understaffed stations into a four‑person minimum company standard.
Chief Opat told the board the county currently cross‑staffs units at Quentin, Lenexa and Eltham and typically has fewer than the national minimum of four firefighters per company. “If we were awarded, that would allow for us to hire additional personnel, to bring these units into compliance,” he said, adding the grant request would total 15 personnel to fill two positions at two stations and three at the third.
The chief provided an estimated multi‑year fiscal impact using prior SAFER guidance: roughly $341,250 in county match in year one (plus about $75,000 for gear/uniforms), similar match obligations in year two, higher match in year three, and full local funding responsibility by year four. He told supervisors the grant typically asks applicants to request enough hires to demonstrate a systemic fix; in his experience partial requests have lower priority.
Supervisors asked detailed questions. Ms. Stewart confirmed the department currently has two budgeted vacancies; the chief said additional positions beyond budgeted vacancies would be needed at the three stations to meet the standard. Supervisor Evelyn urged a countywide assessment and a gradual hiring approach, noting the board must weigh long‑term tax and budget effects. Another supervisor raised the possibility of incremental hires during the budget process rather than taking on all 15 at once.
Chief Opat and staff explained the grant portal requires entering a draft but does not obligate final submission, and that staff could prepare the application in advance of the grant guidance and budget discussions. The board voted informally to defer final action and allowed staff to prepare a draft application for the board to review during the budget process.
The next procedural step is for staff to prepare a grant draft for board review alongside budget planning; no final commitment of matching funds was made at the session.
