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Gunnison Valley Fire Department asks Mayfield for small annual increase to build SCBA replacement fund
Summary
Fire Chief Jed Henson asked Mayfield to add roughly $800 to the town's contribution toward a countywide $5,000 increase to start a reserve for SCBA cylinders and other equipment with limited lifespans; council discussed equipment costs, hydrant testing, and feasibility of a standalone Mayfield station.
Jed Henson, fire chief of the Gunnison Valley Fire Department, told the Mayfield Town Council the department is seeking a $5,000 increase in its operating budget to begin a replacement reserve for aging personal protective equipment and breathing cylinders.
"We are requesting to raise our budget this year $5,000," Henson said, and he explained the rationale: certain gear has fixed certification cycles and maximum service lives. "That cylinder has a 15 year lifespan," he said, describing the annual inspection and the five‑year hydrostatic test; he added that a single cylinder today approaches $2,000 and replacing the county's fleet could approach $70,000.
Henson said Mayfield's portion of the $5,000 request would be roughly $800. Council members and residents asked about hydrant flow testing, the fire district's apparatus purchasing process, and whether surplus trucks could be relocated to Mayfield. The chief noted equipment and staffing costs for a stand‑alone station would be substantial and that district policy typically pays for apparatus purchases but not necessarily turnout gear and SCBA packs.
The council accepted the request as budgeted in the clerk's proposal (the $800 figure was already built into the draft budget) and thanked the fire chief for the report. Members discussed longer‑term options including district equipment sharing, possible community fundraising, and timing for larger replacements.
What happens next: the $5,000 district increase will be funded through the district and the town's contribution as recorded in the adopted budget; council asked staff to coordinate further on hydrant testing and fleet placement.
