Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County accepts donated Airbus helicopter, rescue boat and brush trucks for fire services
Summary
The committee accepted a donations report showing an Airbus helicopter, brush trucks and a 27-foot rescue boat were donated to the fire department; the record shows inconsistent donor naming in remarks (transcript alternately calls it 'Sarah Foundation' and 'Sierra Foundation').
The Finance Committee reviewed a report of donations from the Daniel R. Cyr Memorial Foundation dated June 12, 2024, and heard from the fire department about recently received equipment.
Assistant Fire Chief Daru Nupinak described the donated items: "included in here is our brand new Chopper 2 Airbus," several brush trucks, an ABT trailer purchased for Waikoloa Fire Station, and a 27-foot HOKO Marine rescue boat for Kailua Fire Station. Nupinak said Monowave Air, the county's pilot contractor, provides maintenance services for the aircraft and that the department has been discussing hangar options; he said operating and maintenance costs for the Airbus are higher than for the department's previous Bell model and that fuel consumption has increased.
Council members thanked the donors and asked about storage, maintenance responsibility and which districts would receive the vehicles; staff said brush trucks would be deployed to South Kohala, North Kohala, Waikoloa and Waimea as part of staged distribution. The transcript includes inconsistent references to the donor name — the clerk's cover referenced the Daniel R. Cyr Memorial Foundation while speakers later called the donor the 'Sarah Foundation' and then the 'Sierra Foundation.' The committee voted to close the file on Communication 16.3; the clerk recorded nine members in favor.
