Panel tentatively oks fire department capital requests

Source: Yahoo

Jun. 17 -- Cumberland County's budget committee tentatively approved the purchase of a rescue truck, bay expansion at Mayland Fire Hall and equipment to be placed on a firetruck for the county fire department during last week's meeting.

The meeting featured departmental call backs for the committee members to ask questions and further consider capital requests for the 2024-25 fiscal year budget.

Cumberland County Fire Chief Trevor Kerley explained a $60,000 equipment request was a "must have" for emergency response equipment for a fire engine that was purchased.

He explained that a small addition needs to be added on to the bay at the Mayland Fire Hall for the tanker to be placed at that fire hall.

"We're going to put the big tanker out there because we're responding to Royal Oaks [charcoal manufacturing plant]. It's about $38,000, and it is needed. That's getting to be real station out there," Kerley said.

The rescue unit request is for $300,000.

"The one we currently have has 100,000 miles on it, and we're down one truck right now," Kerley said.

There is also a $250,000 request for a used fire engine.

"How much is a new one?" Nancy Hyder, 2nd District commissioner and budget committee chairwoman asked.

"Around $450,000 to $500,000. I'd prefer a used one in this situation," Kerley said.

He explained one of the newer engines would be placed out at the Big Lick station because the truck out there is one of the older units in operation.

Rebecca Stone, 3rd District commissioner, moved to tentatively fund the rescue unit at $300,000; Mayland Fire Hall by expansion at $40,000; and $60,000 equipment request.

"We can look at the used engine request at the end after we get our final numbers in for revenues," Stone said.

Jerry Cooper, 7th District commissioner, supported the motion and it was unanimously approved.

The committee also approved a $5,000 request from the Pleasant Hill Historical Society for improvements on buildings. Jim Blalock, representing the Historical Society, withdrew the extra request of $2,000 and said the nonprofit group is eligible for additional grants through the state.

The committee is waiting for revenue numbers to come in to finalize its budget. The finance department was tasked with creating an expense chart for the committee to determine the cost of a 4%, 5% and 6% cost of living adjustment salary increase for full-time and part-time county employees.

The committee will tentatively meet July 2.

Charles Seiber, 4th District commissioner and committee member, did not attend the meeting.