Bridgeport fire chief reports 103 July calls, outlines uses for new special-assessment funds

Fire Chief Smigiel told the Bridgeport Charter Township Board on Aug. 7 that the department responded to 103 calls for service in July 2024 and 791 year-to-date calls through July. He also announced that Firefighter Josh Bond has passed the National Registry Emergency Medical Responder test, which the chief said "clears Josh to respond to medical emergencies" and raises the number of active members certified in both fire and medical response to 11.

Smigiel provided a breakdown of current certifications: two members with medical-only certification, three with fire-only certification and one with no certifications recorded. He said the department recently sent a prospective member for medical screening; if that candidate is cleared it will increase the cadet count, and the department currently expects four cadets awaiting fire academy enrollment.

The chief thanked residents for approving a recently placed Fire Department Special Assessment on the ballot. "We want to thank the citizens of Bridgeport for the passage of the Fire Department Special Assessment Ballot proposal," Smigiel said, and described planned uses for the revenue: repairs inside the fire station such as work on the apparatus floor and addition of shower facilities. He said the department does not intend to purchase high-end gear but emphasized that equipment must be properly rated for safety.

At the meeting the board set a public hearing on the fire assessment for Sept. 3, 2024, by a motion from Trustee Placher, seconded by Trustee Adams; the motion was recorded on a roll call as unanimous (Ayes: 7). The hearing will provide residents an opportunity to review the assessment details before any implementation.

Police Chief Skabardis was noted as having provided a police-department report earlier in the meeting; the transcript records that he gave a report but does not expand the details in this record.

The board adjourned at 6:33 p.m.