MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Muscatine City Council will be asked to approve a grant awarded to the Muscatine Fire Department to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) during the Council meeting Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020.
The Muscatine City Council will meet in a virtual session at 7 p.m. Thursday. Details on attending the virtual meeting are listed below.
The Fire Department was notified on August 12, 2020, that the department had been awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $260,909.90. The grant will allow the Fire Department to purchase 41 new air packs with the City’s share being $26,090.91.
“I want to give Battalion Chief Gary Ronzheimer credit for writing this successful grant,” Fire Chief Jerry Ewers said. “We had planned for two large requests for capital outlay in the new Fiscal Year budget for the SCBA’s and a new fire engine. This grant award definitely helps us out.”
The current stock of SCBA used by the fire department was purchased in 2001 with an Assistance to Firefighters Grant. Those packs are useable but out of date with current technology and with the devices used by other mutual aid departments. The old packs are also much harder to maintain since parts are no longer being produced.
The Fire Department had been trying to secure a grant for the last several years to help pay for the new apparatus but have been unsuccessful in the highly competitive grant market. Until now.
The department had budgeted $212,500 to replace 20 of the 42 SCBA’s with another 20 to be included in the 2021/2022 budget if grants were not available.
Ronzheimer wrote the latest grant application submitted under the Grant Programs Directorate’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Assistance to Firefighters Grants program of the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) in the United States Department of Homeland Security. The grant application, approved by the City Council at its February 18, 2020, meeting, requested $425,000 for 42 SCBA packs and face pieces.
FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant provides funding for the essentials that firefighters and first responders need to be safe and effective on the job.
Click AGENDA to download the August 20, 2020, City Council agenda and/or attachments.
How to attend, speak at virtual meeting –
Meetings of the Muscatine City Council have been held by conference call since Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds proclaimed a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency on March 19, 2020. To join the conference call by computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone click on the following link
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/612105389. Citizens can also listen to the meeting with their phone by dialing +1 (872) 240-3412 and use the access code 612-105-389.
Please mute your computer or phone while listening to the proceedings (press *6 when using phone or mute button on computer). A chat window is available when you use your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Those wishing to speak or to ask a question are asked to use the chat box to post a message that will be seen by the Mayor who will address the questions or call on the speaker in turn. Those using their phones must wait until the Mayor asks for additional comments. The Mayor will recognize you prior to you addressing the Council.
Muscatine City Council Regular Meeting
Thu, Aug 20, 2020 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (CDT)
Please join the meeting from your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone using the following link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/612105389
You can also dial in using your phone: United States: +1 (872) 240-3412
Access Code: 612-105-389
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