Simpson County and Franklin approve emergency funding to replace firefighter air packs

Fire Chief Leslie Goodrum told the Simpson County Fiscal Court and Franklin City Commission on March 10 that the department’s self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) will become obsolete in May or June after the supplier rescinded certification.

Goodrum said a prior FEMA grant application for 43 replacement units was not awarded; a subsequent BRADD-assisted grant request for 21–23 units is pending but would not begin procurement until September. Because the current equipment will lapse before a new, larger grant can be executed, Goodrum requested immediate funds to obtain roughly 10 units and the associated equipment so the department can continue to operate safely.

According to the chief, the immediate need is about $125,000 to cover an initial purchase; new units would take about 12–16 weeks for delivery once ordered. The joint bodies approved motions to commit to funding: one motion (by Dale McCreary, second by Kelly Bush) approved covering the city share upon receiving a proposal; a subsequent motion (by Marty Chandler, second by Myron Thurman) authorized the County Judge Executive to sign any necessary documents to cover the county’s portion. Both motions were recorded as carrying with an affirmative vote by the bodies present.

Goodrum also asked the bodies to consider adding an additional firefighter during upcoming budget planning; the governing bodies said they would review that personnel request during the fiscal-year budgeting process.

The meeting record shows no vendor was named and procurement will proceed after the city and county receive and approve a vendor proposal. The motions recorded commit the bodies to cover their respective shares once a proposal is received.