SALEM FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT

Ed Pothul May 15, 2018

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Construction of a new stand-alone building to house the Salem Volunteer Fire Department’s largest trucks and equipment got a big boost Monday, thanks to a $25,000 Community Development Partnership Program grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.

Pictured, from left to right, are: Darrell Stein, Salem VFD second assistant chief; Joy Fuchs, Washington County Precinct 4 commissioner; Don Koester, Washington County Precinct 1 commissioner; Louis Schwarze, VFD building committee member; Arthur Nordt, VFD treasurer; Lance Lehmann, fire chief; Luther Hueske, Washington County Precinct 2 commissioner; Lori A. Berger, LCRA Board member; Russell Stein, VFD president; John Brieden, Washington County judge; and Kenneth Mutscher, Bluebonnet board member.

The addition will include three truck bays with electric overhead doors to facilitate a faster emergency response time.

Energy-efficient heating will prevent water in the trucks and pumps from freezing during cold weather months.

The project also includes replacing a porch cover, digging a retention pond and improving a parking lot.

The department has more than $200,000 in matching funds for this project, and will receive in-kind labor from licensed electricians, plumbers, carpenters, craftsmen and HVAC technicians during construction.

President of the department, Russell Stein says the department outgrew the space they had, and the new building will provide plenty of room for training and storage.

The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted July 1-July 31. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.

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