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Marion pursues FEMA and SAFER grants to replace breathing apparatus and hire firefighters
Summary
Council approved an AFG application for new SCBAs and authorized staff to apply for a SAFER hiring grant to add seven firefighters; staff outlined match requirements and multi‑year city costs.
Marion City Council on June 8 authorized staff to apply for federal funding to both replace critical firefighting equipment and to expand staffing if awarded.
Council approved Ordinance 2026‑51 to apply for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from FEMA to buy self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) and associated gear. Speakers noted the AFG program requires a local match; staff said that without a hardship waiver the local 10% share would be about $54,000 and that the city may request a waiver as part of the application.
Separately, Mayor Collins asked the council to allow the city to apply for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to hire seven firefighters over a three‑year grant period. Administration statements described the grant covering roughly 75% of pay and benefits in the early years and the city carrying a larger share later; the mayor outlined an estimated city contribution of about $127,400 in each of the first two years and an estimated third‑year city exposure reported in the meeting of about $331,240. The mayor noted prior staffing losses and the need to stabilize department headcount.
Council voted to suspend committee consideration and move forward with the SAFER application so staff could meet grant deadlines. Council and staff emphasized that the city must confirm ongoing budget capacity before committing to multi‑year staffing obligations if the grant is awarded.
Next steps: Safety Service staff will prepare grant applications, seek any eligible hardship waivers for the AFG match and return to council with final match documentation and implementation plans if awards are made.
