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Fire department gets $118,500 federal grant
MINERAL RIDGE
Weathersfield Township trustees accepted a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant of $118,500 for the township fire department Tuesday.
The grant money will be used to purchase a new light-rescue brush-fire unit and requires a 5 percent contribution from the township of $5,925, which is included in the grant total.
The truck will be assigned to Station 42, the West Park Station, and Fire Chief Randy Pugh will outfit the truck to assist in auto accidents with a Hurst tool, a hydraulic rescue tool that helps firefighters when an occupant of a vehicle is trapped.
The truck will replace a 1972 Jeep and a 1988 Suburban currently being used.
In other business, trustees approved the purchase of two 2013 Ford Police Interceptor models. The clerk also was asked to secure financing for the vehicles not to exceed $60,000. The new cars will be used by full-time officers, and the cars now being used by the full- timers will be used by part-time officers. Currently, part-time officers are using vehicles with 150,000 to 160,000 miles on them, trustee chairman Steven Gerberry said.
Trustees also approved the purchase of a 2013 Ford F350 and a 2013 Ford F550 and equipment for the vehicles for the township road department and instructed the clerk to secure financing for the trucks not to exceed $100,000. The new trucks will replace two vehicles now in use. A 1986 will be taken out of commission, and a 1996 will stay in the fleet in lighter-duty capacity.
Ronald Fike was named to fill an unexpired term on the Board of Zoning Appeals through Dec. 31, 2015.
Trustees are exploring options for a text-alert system for instant communications with residents and media. Gerberry said the trustees have to contact two businesses that would offer the service and plan to move forward in the next few weeks.
He said individuals interested in receiving the text messages on their cellphones would sign up for the messaging, which will include such messages as when meetings are planned, if there is a snow emergency and a parking ban in place, and other ideas.
Mosquito pellets are available for residents to place in standing-water areas.
Spring cleanup will be May 7-11 on the regularly scheduled garbage day.