County accepts SAFER grant gear purchases and approves brush‑truck skid unit; net county costs limited by reimbursements

County Administrator Darren Myers described two fire‑department procurement items tied to federal grants. First, under a FEMA SAFER grant administered through the Kansas State Firefighters Association, the department identified up to 10 eligible firefighters for replacement bunker gear that meets NFPA standards. Myers said gear and related NFPA‑equivalent physicals would be procured and submitted for reimbursement; the grant covers most costs, leaving the county with a comparatively small net expense. "So all in all, you're looking at roughly $3,700 per firefighter for a set of gear... we would be reimbursed all of that back except for $300," Myers said, and the commission approved two purchase orders: one aligned with the grant submission and another for the annual eight‑set buy.

Second, the commission approved purchase of a brush‑truck skid unit funded largely through a Department of Interior grant; because the vendor skid units have restrictions on modification, the county will have a local vendor build and mount a skid unit on an existing F‑550 chassis. Myers said the grant will reimburse the bulk of the $21,040 unit cost, with the county’s net share about $1,800 after reimbursement. The commission approved the related PO.

Why it matters: the grants and purchases reduce county out‑of‑pocket costs while improving firefighter safety and rural response capacity. Commissioners emphasized volunteer protection and long‑term replacement scheduling for bunker gear.