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Commission authorizes SAFER grant application to add fire staff; board discusses Kyler station housing
Summary
The board gave staff permission to proceed with a SAFER grant application and task order for grant-writing services to fund firefighter positions; commissioners also discussed timelines to place a mobile home at the Kyler station and directed staff to prepare a floor plan and procurement steps.
The Baker County Board of County Commissioners authorized staff to pursue a federal SAFER grant intended to help fund additional fire-rescue staffing and to engage North Florida Professional Services to prepare the application.
A fire-rescue representative summarized the SAFER program’s typical funding structure: "For the first two years the federal government will pay for 75% of the salaries," the representative said, adding that the county’s share rises in later years. Staff clarified that the immediate vote was for a task order for a grant writer and that the full grant proposal and any county match would return to the board for approval before submission.
Commissioners asked staff to provide the number of positions the grant would cover and an estimate of the county cost if the grant were awarded. Staff said the application could propose up to 12 positions (4 per shift), but would return with firm numbers.
Separately, the board continued discussion about improving response coverage in the Kyler area. Commissioners directed staff to prepare a detailed floor plan and procurement path for a mobile home to serve as temporary housing at the Kyler station so staffing gained through a SAFER award could be deployed quickly. Staff said that once a plan and manufacturer are selected the county’s permitting and installation timeline could be measured in days for installation, with the main potential delay coming from manufacturing lead time.
The motion to authorize the SAFER grant application and task order carried on a voice vote. The board asked staff to bring back funding implications and a recommended timeline at the June meeting.
