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Tell City fire chief seeks blessing to apply for federal firefighter grant for new apparatus
Summary
The fire chief told the board that the Assistance to Firefighters Grant is open with a limited window and a likely 5% match for Tell City; he suggested applying for a ladder truck but said the grant is competitive and would require upfront funds.
Tell City’s fire chief told the Board of Public Works and Safety on Monday that the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is open for a limited period and that the department would like the board’s support to apply.
The chief said the current population band appears to carry a 5% local-match requirement. He noted that the department’s ladder truck (Tower 2) is approaching 30 years and suggested the grant could be used to replace a vehicle or other vocational apparatus; a new ladder truck could cost around $2 million, which would imply a local match in the order of $100,000 if awarded.
Board members discussed whether the city should pursue a full ladder truck or look for a used vehicle. The chief said vehicles now have long lead times of two to three years if a contract is signed, and the board agreed that applying was a reasonable avenue to pursue. The board did not take a formal vote to authorize an immediate expenditure; members asked staff to assist with the application and said the match could be advanced from an account and later reimbursed if the grant were awarded.
Next steps: staff will support grant preparation with the fire department and report back to the board.
