Council approves emergency management improvements at fire station
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GLENWOOD CITY—A month ago the City Council approved repairs to the fire station office and meeting room with installing a new floor, ceiling and painting of the area. At Monday nights meeting of the council, Police Chief Joe Klatt discussed the need for an area to provide an emergency center in times of natural disaster or other emergencies.
Klatt said that a space was needed that had a standby generator and that the fire station has the generator. He discussed the idea with fire chief Greg Holden. The council agreed and while improvements are being made, more Internet and Wi-Fi connections will be installed in the fire stations meeting room to allow for a command center during an emergency, should one arise.
Fire Chief Holden also addressed the council asking for approval of several items that were needed. First he had the new fire engine that the department had purchased. It is a used engine from Savage, Minnesota. The engine is a 2006 enclosed cab that will replace a 1995 International that Chief Holden asked to allow it to be sold. He told the council that they would be asking $25,000 for it. “If we can’t get that, we will kept it,” Holden told the council.
The department paid $61,124. For the used Spartan engine and Holden requested funds to update the unit. One update was for a new radio at $5,582, saying that the radio that was on the 1995 engine was not compatible with the equipment on the new unit. He also needs to purchase suction hose fitting to allow it to be used at rural fires where there are not any fire hydrants. The cost of that equipment was $1,672.
Holden also needed funds for firefighters turn out gear. These are the coats and pants that are used by firefighters. Holden told the council that those items have a ten year life and that he needs to purchase three sets to replace those than are over their 10 year life. The cost of these three sets is $8,061. There is a 24-28 weeks before these will be delivered.
The council approved using some of the ADRC funds that the city received to help with the financing of these fire department purchases. They also used some of the ADRC funds to improve the gutters and run off of rainwater at the new Municipal Building. At present the run off is directed over the sidewalks and has caused a problem making the walks slippery and it was mentioned that someone had fallen.
