Million Dollar Grant Could Fund 8 Additional Firefighters

SAN ANGELO, TX -- San Angelo City Council members Tuesday will consider approving a grant that will fund 8 additional firefighters for three years.  

According to the city council agenda for Tuesday’s regular meeting, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant in the amount of $1,096,192 over three years will pay 75 percent of the salaries and benefits for the first two years and 35 percent in the third year.

Assistant Fire Chief Todd Sanford reports the firefighters would be placed on Ladder one and Battalion one to meet national standards for those vehicles.  The Fire Department was notified last month that they had received the federal grant. According to Sanford, the city’s $148,134 matching funds for the first year are already in the budget.  Year two funds will also be $148,134 and the third year the city’s portion will be $385,148. After that, the city will pay the full cost each year for the 8 firefighters at $592,536 per year.  

The fire department has until Friday to accept the grant.

In other business, the city council will also consider eliminating a ten percent conservation credit on water bills for customers who use less than 3,000 gallons per month as we reported earlier.  

City Council members also have a closed session to consider the annual evaluation of the city manager and to meet with an attorney to discuss the solid waste contract with Republic Services.

The San Angelo City Council meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning in council chambers at the McNease Convention Center.