Beaver County holds CDBG public hearing on Fire District No. 1’s $300,000 ambulance request

Beaver County commissioners opened a public hearing May 5 to solicit comments on a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Cities Program application from Fire District No. 1 seeking $300,000 to purchase a new ambulance.

The hearing notice was read into the record and included application contact information (Adoni Yardley) and accommodation instructions (Chloe Anderson). County staff told the commission the Fire Department requested $300,000; the total project cost was described in the notice as $300,000.

Representatives for the fire district said that if awarded, equipment from an existing ambulance would be transferred into the new vehicle and that additional equipment and devices (AEDs, blood-pressure units and similar gear) drove up costs. “That’s our ask. It’s 300,000,” the chair said during the discussion.

Commissioners and presenters discussed possible cost shares and emphasized that even a partial award would allow the department to proceed with purchasing. A commissioner also urged using local ranking influence on regional steering committees to improve the county’s chances in the competitive regional ranking process.

The hearing closed after commissioners invited final questions and reminded the public that copies of the county capital investment plan were available at county offices. No final CDBG award was decided at the hearing; the application will proceed through the regional ranking and state review processes, and the county noted the final federal award amount will be set by the administering agency.