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Tri-Town Fire treasurer urges Oscoda County to replace aging 'Jaws of Life' after failed inspection
Summary
Tri-Town Fire Department treasurer Susan Avery told the board the county's rescue cutters dating to the 1980s failed a safety inspection; a vendor quote of about $46,000 was presented and Avery said recent grant applications were denied, leaving no immediate external funding.
Susan Avery, treasurer of the Tri-Town Fire Department, told the Oscoda County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 24 that the county’s hydraulic rescue cutters (commonly called "Jaws of Life")—units dating from the 1980s—failed a recent maintenance and safety inspection and need replacement.
Vendor representative Kevin Marino presented a quote for new equipment of approximately $46,000. Avery said recent grant applications had been denied and that there was no immediate state or federal funding available to cover the purchase. The board heard the presentation; the meeting record does not show a motion or vote to authorize county funds for the purchase during the Feb. 24 meeting.
Avery framed the request as urgent because the existing units failed safety evaluation; the transcript does not provide further technical detail about inspection findings or a procurement timeline. The board did not record public debate or opposition on the request in the meeting minutes.
If the county pursues replacement, staff or the board would need to identify funding sources or reallocate budget lines in a subsequent meeting.
