Construction began recently on Traer Fire’s new building in the empty lot located directly east of the main station at 648 Second Street, TimesRepublican.com reported. Updates were provided at the December 5 Traer City Council meeting.

The new 50’x 88′, six-bay building is being constructed next to the fire station in order to house the department’s biggest trucks including its new aerial truck, while the main building will continue to be used for training, storage, meetings, kitchen and bathroom facilities, and more, the report said.

In the summer, the city earmarked roughly $240,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the project with the fire department further dedicating both city and rural set-aside funds plus some fundraising to the project’s finances, according to the report.

The hope is that the building will be done before winter sets in completely, the report said.

The Bayville Fire Department was awarded a $34,000 grant that they will use to purchase life-saving equipment, jerseyshoreonline.com reported.

The grant came from the NJ Department of Community Affairs Fiscal Year 2022 American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant, the report said.

The local grant was part of $10 million in American Rescue Plan money distributed to 293 fire departments throughout the state. The goal was to ensure firefighters have proper protective, cleaning, and sanitization equipment during this time of heightened community need.

Fire departments can use the grant funding to help cover costs associated with the purchases of:

• Protective clothing (turnout clothing ensembles, pants, garments, helmets, hoods, gloves, footwear, etc.);

• Cleaning and advanced cleaning equipment;

• Oxygen equipment;

• Personal protective equipment (PPE); and

• Other fire/virus protection equipment as determined to be appropriate by DCA’s Division of Local Government Services.

The Fairfield mayor and council passed a bond ordinance that will provide an appropriation of $1.2 million for the acquisition of a fire truck for the township and authorize the issuance of $302,000 bond or notes for financing part of the appropriation, tapinto.net reported.  

The next council meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers. 

VIDEO: Beloved Central Pierce Fire and Rescue firefighter John Garner died last Wednesday. His death was “completely unexpected” and “stunned” friends and family, according to Central Pierce Fire and Rescue Chief Dustin Morrow. “John was a true inspiration,” Morrow tweeted. “His positive energy, on and off the job, was something that many tried to mimic, but few did.
- PUB DATE: 12/16/2022 12:34:37 PM - SOURCE: KING-TV NBC 5 Seattle

City staff has been evaluating locations for a future second fire station as called for in our strategic plan, developed with recommendations from an outside consultant, to improve our fire response as our community continues to grow, the city of North Liberty said in a press release. Earlier this fall, we began to take steps to identify and acquire a specific site for that future station.

During site evaluation, staff considered several factors including emergency response times, 1.5-mile radius coverage from the existing and proposed fire stations, land and other development costs and compatibility with current and future uses. The process also included inviting community members to an open house in October to answer questions, hear concerns and provide feedback.

The City Council is expected to discuss potential sites, but not take any formal action, at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, 2022, in the City Council Chambers, 1 Quail Creek Circle, North Liberty. The public is invited to attend.

At this meeting, staff will share with the council information about the previously identified, preferred site immediately adjacent to Harvest Estates and an alternative site along St. Andrews Drive to the west nearer Alexander Way (see map on the reverse side), as well as other previously considered, but ill-suited, locations.

That memo will be available late next week online in the meeting’s information packet at northlibertyiowa.org/meetings/citycouncil, and this post will be updated when it’s complete.

During the City Council meeting on Dec. 13, there will be time set aside on the agenda for public comment should you wish to provide any spoken comment. You can also send written comments to the City Council and Mayor Hoffman via email to council@northlibertyiowa.org or mail to PO Box 77, North Liberty IA 52317, at any time.