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Fire chief cites grants, equipment needs and ambulance fleet concerns
Summary
Georgetown's fire chief summarized recent community events, reported two grants (a $1,200 equipment grant and a $15,000 state grant), described the need to replace or remount aging ambulances with ~280,000 miles combined, and said staff will pursue Assistance to Firefighter grants for monitors and Lucas devices.
Chief Rockey gave the council an update on the fire and EMS department, highlighting recent community engagement and several funding and equipment items the department is pursuing.
Rockey said the department participated in the village’s 50th tournament and a fireworks event with no major incidents. He reported two recent grant awards: a $1,200 equipment grant tied to seat-belt funding and a separate $15,000 equipment award from the state fire marshal’s office intended for battery-powered exhaust fans and other gear. Rockey said those fans are costly and may consume much of the $15,000 award.
On equipment and fleet needs, Rockey told the council that the department’s two ambulances have a combined roughly 280,000 miles and that both vehicles recently experienced breakdowns, leaving the village briefly without its own ambulance and reliant on neighboring agencies. He described options under consideration, including buying new ambulances, purchasing remounts (rebuilding existing boxes on new chassis), or rotating existing vehicles when new units arrive. Rockey said remounts can be about $100,000 less than a fully new ambulance and may be a cost-effective option if the box is in good condition.
Rockey also discussed equipment lifecycle needs: he reported planning to apply for Assistance to Firefighter grants to replace cardiac monitors and Lucas devices (he estimated monitors are about $60,000 apiece) and described an annual service contract with Stryker that maintains power cots, monitors and other critical systems. He also shared personnel notes: the department has a new part-time hire and extended condolences and support for one employee whose son died in a motorcycle crash.
Council members asked about the possibility of grants in future cycles, whether ambulances were bought new or used, and financing options; staff said the village’s finance lead was researching financing terms and that the department historically buys new ambulances except in an emergency when a used vehicle was purchased.
What’s next: staff will continue pursuing grants, research financing/remount options, and return to council with cost estimates and a proposed rotation plan for the fleet.
