Committee to discuss firefighter grant

Oct. 20--DANVILLE -- Now that the city has accepted the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant and will be hiring six new firefighters, another Federal Emergency Management Agency grant can help with equipment and training costs.

The Danville City Council's Public Services Committee will consider Tuesday approving application for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

Danville Firefighters Local 429 Union President Brian Hogg said the SAFER grant is about personnel and this grant is about equipment and training. Hogg said the federal funding would pay for 90 percent of the costs. The city match would be 10 percent. The grant request is for $288,750 and the city's match would be $26,250.

Hogg said the grant would be for gear, hazardous material and emergency medical technician training and classes for the new firefighters that will be hired.

Hogg said the grant is competitive, but Danville will get higher priority since the city was awarded a SAFER grant. He said they also will again apply for the economic hardship waiver. The deadline for the grant is Oct. 26.

He added that the grant also would pay for overtime while the firefighters were gone for training. Academy takes 10 weeks and there's two weeks of hazmat training.

Ward 3 Alderwoman Sherry Pickering asked earlier this week about the hiring of the new firefighters.

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said the board of fire and police commissioners next meet Nov. 6. The board will set a date for a review of applicants. Some applicants don't need academy.

"The grant starts the minute we hire the first firefighter. We want to hire all six together," Eisenhauer said.

The new firefighters might not be hired until February, prior to academy in March.

Aldermen Tuesday night also are to continue discussion on the 2018 tax levy and fiscal year 2018-2019 budget. There also will be a geographic information system demonstration.

In other business, committee members will consider:

--Amending Chapter 153 of city code pertaining to electricity.

--Authorizing agreements for health, dental, vision and group term and voluntary life insurance.

--Authorizing an agreement for liability and worker's compensation insurance, and authorizing a spousal incentive to lower monthly health insurance premiums.

--Authorizing budget amendments in finance and for Harrison Park Golf Course.

Coming Up

The Danville City Council's Public Services Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Robert E. Jones Municipal Building, 17 W. Main St.

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