Sarah Watson
Moline Dispatch and Rock Island Argus, Ill.
(TNS)

Mar. 24—It’s orange cone season in Davenport.

Several major construction projects are getting underway as the weather warms this spring, including the completion of 53rd Street, Fire Station No. 3, and the start of a $20 million Duck Creek sewer line project.

With an infusion of federal American Rescue Plan dollars and other grants, Davenport residents will see an unusually high number of construction projects completed in the next few years, city officials said.

“Not just the quantity, but the large-scale nature of it (construction projects),” said Assistant Public Works Director Clay Merritt. “I can speak to my time in nine years coming on 10, we’ve only had maybe three $9 million-plus projects. This summer, we’re probably going to have three or four happening at the same time.”

City officials are urging residents to be patient and drive carefully around the city’s numerous road, sewer, parks, facilities, and trail work.

“There’s a lot of construction occurring so, once again, asking the public, please be patient as we work through this,” Merritt said. “We think everyone will be extremely happy with the end result and the new improvements in the amenities and the infrastructure that we’re building. We just need to take the time to get there.”

Fire station to wrap up construction this year

Motorists on North Brady Street or Welcome Way and 42nd Street have likely seen the towers and framing that will become a new Davenport fire station.

The $10.7 million building will replace Fire Station No. 3, a more than 60-year-old building at 3506 N. Harrison Street. The new location allows for easier access to both north- and south-bound one-ways, which city officials have said will reduce response times.

The building also includes a 60-person community room, larger space for fire apparatus, and airlock vestibules to keep chemicals out of community areas.

Merritt estimated construction will be completed by November of this year.

“Almost every single week, you’re seeing a different change, a different look,” he said. “Thankfully, we had a fairly mild winter, at least from a construction standpoint, and so we’ve been able to proceed pretty much throughout the entirety of the winter on that construction.”

East 53rd Street also to be completed

Construction crews are expected to wrap up the final phases of one of Davenport’s busiest thoroughfares, Merritt said.

The final 0.8 miles from From Lorton Avenue to Eastern Avenue will be reconstructed and widened this year, with a recreational trail added too.

Motorists will begin seeing lane reductions on Monday as construction closes two lanes between Eastern Avenue and Jersey Ridge Road. Side streets to the south will also be closed intermittently, according to the city.

By the end of the year, drivers will see the final product of the years-long construction.

The $16.2 million 53rd Street reconstruction project is a four-year, two-phase, multi-segment project that completely reconstructed the four-lane roadway between Brady Street and Elmore Circle. Part of the funding came from federal grants.

Federal COVID-19 relief funds projects

The city plans to extend a sewer line west of Davenport, following Duck Creek from about North Division Street past I-280. The bulk of the $20 million multi-year project is being paid for by some of the city’s $40.94 million allocation from the federal Am

Ken de la Bastide
The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.
(TNS)

Mar. 27—ANDERSON — During the past year the city of Anderson has spent approximately $2 million on new equipment for the police and fire departments.

The 103 officers with the Anderson Police Department have been provided with new safety equipment.

All officers received new bulletproof body armor and helmets, and 20 patrol cars will be equipped with bulletproof shields and building entry tools.

The administration of Anderson Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. included in the 2023 city budget $350,000 from the city’s share of the public safety local income tax to purchase the new equipment.

The city also budgeted $288,000 from the public safety funds for the purchase of an armored rescue and extraction vehicle that would be used to allow police to quickly remove people from a dangerous environment.

That vehicle is set to be delivered this fall.

Chief Mike Lee said he was approached by Broderick following the school shooting in Texas last year.

Broderick said following the Texas shooting the city wanted to make sure the officers have the proper protective gear.

“I know that you would never let happen what took place in Texas by standing around,” he said. “We wanted to make sure you had as much protection as possible to enter a crime scene.”

The police department is moving forward with accreditation plans.

Broderick announced last year that the department was starting the process with Indiana Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission.

Chief Mike Lee delivered several documents as part of the departmental reorganization and minor changes to some policies.

The accreditation commission has developed a set of standards and best practices for police agencies across the state.

The website says that earning its accreditation is a clear statement of exceptional levels of professionalism and commitment to excellence in law enforcement.

APD has taken recent steps to improve its law enforcement measures. They include:

—Continuously replacing aging police vehicles

—Implementing and expanding a vehicle take-home program.

—The 2023 city budget includes $190,000 to purchase new patrol cars.

—Installing in-car computers in all patrol cars

—Issuing new body cameras and uniforms for all officers

—Streamlining creation of documentation and reports

—Rewriting and updating all policies and procedures, including making most policies available online

—Creating a new complaint and compliment process.

The Anderson Fire Department has spent $850,000 on the purchase of a new ambulance and pumper truck in 2022 and upgraded communication services at all of the fire stations.

Assistant Chief Todd Cawthorn said the Fire Department now has three front-line ambulances and three backups in the fleet.

Last year, the ambulances made 13,131 emergency runs, and Cawthorn said the number of runs this year is increasing.

The 2023 budget includes funding for a new truck at Station 2, a new ambulance and a new vehicle for the battalion chief.

The Madison County Council approved an appropriation of $122,100 to install the bulletproof windshields in all 40 vehicles used by the department.

The city of Elwood also equipped all of their patrol vehicles with bulletproof windshields after the shooting death of Officer Noah Shahnavaz last July.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.

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(c)2023 The Herald Bulletin (Anderson, Ind.)

Visit The Herald Bulletin (Anderson, Ind.) at www.theh

The bipartisan Fire Station Act would authorize $750 million in fire station construction grants

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S Rep. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), longtime Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced today that he and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) have reintroduced legislation to help fire departments across the United States update existing fire stations and construct new ones where needed. The Facilitating Investments Required for Emergency Services to All Towns in Our Nation (FIRE STATION) Act, would authorize $750 million in fire station construction grants administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for modifying, upgrading, and building fire and EMS department facilities, including local fire and EMS stations and training facilities.

The FIRE STATION Act is co-led in the House by U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) and Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and co-led in the Senate by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.

The bipartisan legislation is aimed at ensuring that fire and EMS departments across the nation have access to the resources they need to better serve their communities. The grant funding can be used to build, rebuild, or renovate fire and EMS department facilities; upgrade existing facilities to install exhaust emission control systems; install backup power systems; upgrade or replace environmental control systems, such as HVAC systems; remove or remediate mold; and construct or modify living quarters for use by male and female personnel.

“Firefighters and EMS personnel put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. They deserve the best possible resources and facilities to carry out their vital work,” said Congressman Pascrell. “Our Fire Station Act will provide critical funding to help modernize fire and EMS department facilities across the nation, ensuring that our first responders have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

“Our fire fighters deserve the best possible facilities so they can be ready with everything they need to spring into action when duty calls. Yet nearly half of the fire stations across America require major repairs – with some even posing serious health hazards to the men and women who protect our communities. This bipartisan bill will unlock more funding to ensure our fire and EMS heroes have modern, safe, and mission-ready facilities,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“As co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I am committed to championing legislation that invests in the first responders who put their lives on the line to protect our communities every day,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “I am proud to spearhead this bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will allocate additional resources to our hero fire fighters.”

“As one of the few former firefighters in Congress, it’s a very personal mission for me to ensure our fire stations are upgraded and modernized,” said Congressman Bost. “My role as a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus provides an important platform to see that mission through. I’m proud to support the Fire Station Construction Grants Act to ensure our firefighters have the safe and effective facilities they need to do their jobs and keep their communities safe.”

“Those who serve as fire fighters throughout Alaska not only deserve functional facilities – but need them – to help them respond quickly and safely to emergencies. Unfortunately, many fire stations in our state are in dire need of repair and updating—which is why I’m joining my colleagues in this bipartisan measure, the FIRE STATION Act, to in

Howard Fire Company made the following announcement on Facebook Feb. 26:

Thought it was time to introduce everyone to Howard Fire Company’s latest acquisitions: ER 14-1 and ER 14-2, our used 2013 Twin Pierce Velocity’s. Both engines were purchased to replace three pieces of apparatus and downsize to two. Both replaced the the 2000 American LaFrance Engine, and 1990 Eone Mack Rescue, housed at the the main station, along with the 1992 Seagrave Engine Rescue housed at the Marion substation.

Both apparatus are set up with both engine and rescue equipment, and clone each other with equipment, hence why we call these units Engine/Rescues or (ER) for short. ER 14-1 is housed at the main station. ER 14-2 is housed at the Marion substation.

HFC would like to thank Marion Township, Curtin Township, Howard Township and Howard Borough for contributing to this project with some of their ARP funds. This acquisition would not have been possible without them.

Equipment mounting was done by our own Deputy Chief Josh Collins and his company Jager LLC. An open house-dedication ceremony was held Saturday, March 25.

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Company President Bill Nearhoof told 6 News these new vehicles require fewer crew members to get them up and running, 6 News reported Saturday. That’s due in part to these two engines replacing what were previously three pieces of apparatus. As fire departments nationwide face a volunteer shortage, Howard fire officials say this improvement makes a difference.

Howard Fire Company covers about 150 square miles, so every second counts when responding to emergencies of all sorts, the report said.