A proposal to erect a county-owned ambulance facility on County C as part of a new fire station – near the intersection with Wisconsin 57 – was approved by the County Board in May 2014. A condition the county placed on the the project was voter approval within two years of a borrowing referendum in all three towns that have ownership in the department.

The BUG Fire Board succeeded in its second attempt to convince taxpayers to fund its share, bringing a $2.8 million proposal to the April 5 ballot that also included expanding the department's north station at Little Sturgeon.

Voters in the three towns voted yes and then affirmed the borrowing at separate town annual meetings April 19.

With the citizen approval, the county's Property Committee discussed moving ahead with a new ambulance station – including space for offices for both the Door County Human Services and Sheriff's Departments.

The money will allow them to buy new exercise equipment and train two staff members with the International Association of Fire Fighters' peer fitness program.

Mayor Dave Fried, who worked on the grant with Deputy Chief Daniel Schaffener, said the program would not only result in a healthier, more physically fit force, but also help to reduce sick time, workers' compensation claims and disability.

"We are another step closer to meeting the fitness needs of our firefighters and other staff," he said.

The grant was awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters program.

The council reviewed Harford County Executive Barry Glassman's proposed $2.88 million allotment for the county's nonprofit EMS Foundation and his proposed $6.78 million allotment for Harford's 12 volunteer fire and EMS companies.

Glassman's total operating and capital budget proposed for FY2017 is $735.2 million.

Next year's fire service allotment of operating funds is $60,000 more than the $6.72 million allocated for the current fiscal year to cover an increase in worker's compensation insurance costs, according to the budget.

Fire companies, which are private, not-for-profit organizations, supplement their county allotments with money each company earns through fundraising events and billing for medical services.

Worthington stressed EMS billing no longer fully funds emergency medical operations the way it did "years ago," as the population and demand for EMS increases in Harford County.