"We painted the truck and did some other repairs like moving the red line reel down behind the cab so a fire-fighter doesn't have to be on top of the truck to reach the line," said Jerry Ragsdell, Cason VFD Chief. "Being able to reach the line from the ground is a safety issue and safety is a priority with our department."

In addition to the military truck, the department also received a grant through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The grant was used to fund a slip-on unit for the back of the truck.

A slip-on unit is a complete, self-contained fire-fighting apparatus designed for a pick-up truck or custom-built vehicle platforms. It is intended to become a fast, initial attack fire-fighting component used for wildland fire-fighting, structure and automobile fires. The truck could also be utilized for high-water rescue when needed due to the height.

Winebrenner took the idea to Mayor Merle Gorden, who would like to see Beachwood house a dispatch center.

It was a year ago that the city dropped its plan to host a regional dispatch center, one that would also be used by University Heights, South Euclid, Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights. Beachwood, as a result, lost a $1.9-million Cuyahoga County grant that would have helped pay for the formation of a regional dispatch center.

The four cities, minus Beachwood, have since gone on, with the aid of a $1-million county grant, to form a dispatch center that will be housed in Cleveland Heights.

Beachwood then considered renovating its former police garage for use as a dispatch center at a cost of $1.2 million-$1.4 million, but action to do so has not been taken.