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Emergency management proposes firefighter accountability 'passport', hose and pump testing, and siren grants
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Summary
Director McBride outlined emergency management requests including a one-time countywide fire-rescue accountability 'passport' system, funding to test hoses and pumps for ISO compliance, out-of-state training funds, and a roughly $98,000 grant for tornado sirens at four locations.
Director McBride (speaker S2), White County's emergency management director, presented three fire‑rescue related budget items and related grant activity during the committee meeting.
What he proposed: McBride described control numbers 30–32 (fire-rescue subaccounts) and asked for an additional $4,500 for staff development to send personnel to out‑of‑state specialized training, a one-time $5,000 initial investment in a countywide fire-rescue and EMS 'passport' accountability system (with lower recurring costs after the first year), and increased maintenance/repair funding to fund pump tests, SCBA flow tests and hose testing to meet ISO requirements. He explained the passport would mount to helmets and apparatus and support incident command and accountability during multi-agency or long-duration events.
Grants and testing: McBride said the county secures the EMPG grant annually but that the federal/state share has been reduced; he also said the county secured a separate grant of roughly $98,000 to install tornado sirens at four locations (Dole, Northfield area, Castle area and Walnut). He explained hose testing procedures — contractors cap both ends, pressure the hose to the stamped PSI and mark hoses that fail, which removes them from service.
Committee concerns and public questions: Committee members asked why the county should test hoses that have been sitting unused for years; McBride said the first-year workload might be higher while unknown hoses are tested and that subsequent years’ costs should drop. A commissioner asked whether local EMS or the city share cost responsibilities; staff clarified county property taxpayers also support EMS and that municipalities can participate in joint arrangements.
Next steps: Committee members asked staff to factor these items into the FY2027 budget and indicated they will continue to review grants, training needs and equipment-testing costs in the next meeting.
