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Fire chief seeks targeted capital, delays ladder-truck replacement; EMS transport rate under review
Summary
Fire Chief AJ outlined capital priorities including replacement lifting airbags ($12,000), turnout gear and helmets, a deferred $300,000 ladder-truck refurbishment and pursuit of grants for a joint live-burn training center; staff also signaled plans to consider raising ambulance transport fees.
Fire Chief AJ detailed several capital and operating requests during the budget work session, emphasizing safety and liability concerns that justify equipment replacement. AJ said the department needs four new lifting airbags at about $12,000 and estimated $12,000 for new helmets to meet NFPA-recommended replacement intervals.
AJ described a multi-year plan for a joint live-burn training center with Madison Township; Madison reportedly applied for grant funding that could cover most of a planned facility. AJ said Madison applied for nearly three-quarters of a million dollars for a training facility and the department will pursue grants but must plan if funding does not materialize.
On a major apparatus question, AJ asked for a $300,000 refurbishment that could extend the life of the department's 2000 ladder truck another 10–15 years. He said buying a new ladder truck would be roughly $2 million, so refurbishment was urged as a fiscally prudent near-term strategy; commissioners accepted deferral of full refurbishment for a year and smaller upgrades this cycle (headsets and LED cab lighting, ~ $26,000).
AJ also discussed grants: the turnout-gear grant had about $31,000 remaining (enough for eight sets), and an EMS grant had roughly $20,000 left to pay for paramedic training slots. He described department staffing as 24 firefighters across three shifts plus a chief and fire inspector (26 on the roster), and noted two paid-on-call firefighters for large incidents.
Separately, AJ said the department is reviewing ambulance-transport billing. He noted current transport charges around $720 per trip and that consulting advice suggested a typical denominator for transport rates might be around three times Medicare, with a potential new charge near $900. AJ said details will be provided to the commission when ready.
