Published: August 20, 2008 12:11 am      

Grayson gets grant for fire department

Grayson — With a substantial check in hand, U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis received a warm welcome in Grayson Tuesday morning as he presented the city with more than $138,000 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

Grayson Mayor George Steele said the city’s share of the $696,095 in grants will be used to purchase a new pumper truck to augment the municipal fire department’s fleet.

“We were very appreciative of it,” Steele said of the $138,415 check presented by the congressman, adding the city is also in the process of building a new fire department facility.

“It will cost approximately $1 million, plus the land — we expect it to be about $1.6 million,” Steele said. “We are looking at a couple of different sites in downtown Grayson for that.”

Steele said Councilman Duane Suttles wrote the grant application, and added he hopes the city will be able to take delivery of the new truck within about three months.

“These grants will help make our communities safer,” said Davis, a 4th District Republican from Hebron. “This important federal funding helps fire departments obtain essential equipment, vehicles and protective gear. I applaud the leaders of these organizations for their proactive efforts to secure funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.

“Fire departments and emergency response organizations across the 4th District could benefit from similar grants, and I urge them to contact my office if we can assist their efforts,” Davis said, encouraging agencies to visit www.firegrantsupport.com or call his office in Fort Mitchell at (859) 426-0080.

Similar grants were awarded in the Glencoe Fire Protection District, the Fort Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department and the Bellview-McVille Fire Protection District.

The program helps eligible fire departments and EMS organizations with training, equipment, personal protective gear, wellness and fitness, as well as health and safety modifications to stations and facilities. The program also helps replace a variety of vehicles including pumper truck, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, foam units and fire boats.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.