WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE REIMBURSING SALEM VFD FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS
Washington County Commissioners moved today (Tuesday) to pitch in needed funding for the Salem Volunteer Fire Department to repair a fire truck.
Commissioners approved $25,000 in reimbursement to the department to fix oil leaks and the A/C and take care of miscellaneous maintenance issues.
The fire department originally requested reimbursement for the purchase of replacement self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) kits, since their existing air packs are at the age where they can no longer be serviced. However, the court felt that putting money toward vehicle repairs instead would help cut down on the department’s ongoing maintenance costs.
Salem Volunteer Fire Captain Matt Martin said the SCBAs costed $58,182, which took a large chunk out of the department’s reserves and did not leave enough for the truck repairs or several other items that are piling up.
Martin estimated repair costs on the truck will run in the high $20,000’s to low $30,000’s. He said the department will be on a “spending hold” for some time, since having roughly $6,000 in reserves does not allow for much.
Commissioner Candice Bullock said the low reserves are a “concern” and asked if that amount will be enough to cover the department’s operating expenses for the rest of the year. Rocky Creek Volunteer Fire Chief Tim Hamff, who said he was helping out the Salem department with coverage today (Tuesday), stated that it ultimately depends on how many calls the department makes.
Also today, the court agreed to enter into a contract for county-wide debris cleanup stemming from Hurricane Beryl.
The contract is with J. Mendoza Tree Services, the same company that the county worked with for cleanup from the May 17th declared disaster.
County Engineer Wesley Stolz said cleanup from the May storm is now complete and involved about 75 roadways. The list to address during the Beryl cleanup has approximately 98 roads.
The contract is for $39,200 and is for 14 days of service. Stolz clarified the timeline is 14 business days, because the Collection/Transfer Station in Brenham is only open half a day on Saturdays and closed on Sundays, and the county must take debris there in order to qualify for project reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In other business, commissioners:
- Accepted a termination letter to end the interlocal agreement between the county and the City of Brenham for emergency management coordinator (EMC) services. The city and county approved the agreement in January to allow the county’s EMC, Bryan Ruemke, to temporarily serve as the city’s EMC and share expenses between the two entities. This came after the retirement of the Brenham Fire Department’s former Assistant Chief and city EMC, Brian Scheffer, and the resignation of Fire Chief Roger Williams. The city is now able resume its own EMC services with the hiring of new Fire Chief Mark Donovan, so the interlocal agreement will end effective September 30th.
- Authorized the Engineering and Development Services (EDS) Department to seek bids for 12 fleet vehicle purchases. Bids will be due to the county on September 25th at 10 a.m. and will be considered by the court on October 1st at 9 a.m.
- Heard quarterly reports from EDS and the Washington County Expo.
But there getting 12 new trucks great leaders.but they can’t see from there house. They just take care of a few
William Penn road has got worse and worse as far as trash people through out. Iv stopped twice going to the dump and picked up bags and debris. I call environmental and he says he looks into it but it happens again and again.
The Winedale/Greenvine community still has debri from the May 16th. storm in the ditches. The road ditches haven’t been shredded this spring or summer. The trees and cane hasn’t been trimmed in almost 2 years. The road ditches are growing up and making it unsafe to travel due to very limited site. The commissioner has even sent out his personal workers to make the roads safer. We have never had these issues in the past, so I don’t know what has changed.