Commissioners voted this week to authorize $300,000 in security improvements at 13 stations, Division Chief Jason Shivers said.  

Planned improvements include standalone cameras ($77,000), outside  lighting upgrades at 11 stations ($39,000) and access cards at 11 stations ( $33,000).

Leading bids from construction firms to complete the work came in between $8 million to $10 million. The council only has about $5.6 million set aside for the project.  

The council on Wednesday will consider awarding a nearly $8.6 million contract to the lowest bidder, Manhattan Construction. The Naples-based firm is part of Rooney Holdings, owned by U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney and his family.  

The new two-story fire station, expected to stand for at least 50 years, will be built with special protections intended to withstand hurricanes as strong as a Category 5. It will also serve as the city’s emergency operations center.

The purchase of the 2017 Pierce Manufacturing, Arrow TX was made possible through an Assistance to Firefighters Grant provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and contributions from the community.

Buying new gear is expensive, and the all-volunteer Orland Fire Department isn’t rich. Orland Fire Chief Bobby Conary said the department can usually raise enough money for new gear by applying for grants from foundations and from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  

This year, however, several of the department’s grant applications fell through, so it was up to Orland taxpayers to foot the bill, if they wanted to.

While $18,818.50 is enough money to buy 10 sets of turnout gear, the department has 15 interior-certified firefighters in need. Fortunately for them, the department came up with a plan to make up the difference.

At the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen's December meeting, fire Chief Chris Rector said the town could purchase the ladder truck for "roughly" $15,000 and that he valued the truck at between $60,000 and $80,000.  

The ladder truck is 20 years newer than the town's current model and includes a water pump, which the current one doesn't have.  

Mayor Paul Evans said an investigator with the Tennessee Municipal League in Nashville inspected the vehicle recently and "definitely thought it was a good buy."

A new ladder truck would cost between $750,000 and $1 million, he said.