HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The joint meeting between the Board of County Commissioners and the Hutchinson City Council Tuesday afternoon resulted in a lot of clearing of the air between the two and at the end of the meeting, county commissioners voted 2-1 to approve spending up to $440,000 or 50% of the cost of the fire improvements asked for by Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer at the City Council meeting on March 15.
Ron Hirst voted against the motion because of the overall cost to the county.
Beer asked to replace three brush trucks, purchase new personal protective gear and bring existing brush trucks up to current standards. Beer also asked for replacement for lost tools, hose and equipment from the recent fires. The total request comes to $880,000.
The City Council approved its half of the money in a special meeting Tuesday night.
"The ultimate goal is to run our entire wildland program off of the money we get from sending our guys out west," Beer said.
Jackson Swearer with the ARPA Task Force spoke in support of the overall idea that the fire department needs the equipment, but did note that it was not one of the ideas presented at any of the public meetings, so if there were another way to pay for it other than ARPA money, that would be preferable.
City finance director Angela Richard couldn't come up with anywhere specific other than the ARPA money that they had $440,000 to spend.
Captain and IAFF union leader Troy Mueller thanked the council for their willingness to spend the money as soon as they knew there was a need.