By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Olive Hill Fire Chief Jeremy Rodgers took time last week to explain to Olive Hill City Council exactly what they were able to obtain for the department with a recent $235,000 grant for replacing their old air tanks and breathing apparatus.
Rodgers explained that the bulk of the grant – around $189,000 – went for new air tanks, valves, and related breathing equipment. These new breathing apparatuses not only make sure that firefighters have a supply of fresh air while entering smoke filled buildings, Rodgers explained, but they also help facilitate better communication. That’s because each of the breathing masks has wireless Bluetooth connectivity that can allow direct communication between firefighters.
But while those new bells and whistles are nice, that wasn’t why the department was keen to replace their tanks. That had more to do with their age and the problems they were experiencing with them.
“It was getting to the point the old ones were failing to such an extent,” Rodgers said, “it was fighting a losing battle,” to maintain them.
With the new system, he said, they won’t have to worry about servicing and repairing them as often, and should get several years of use from them.
He said the remainder of the funds received with this grant would be used to purchase a new system for filling the tanks with compressed oxygen.
He told the council he next wants to look at writing a grant to replace a ladder truck, at a cost of $900,000 to $1 million. While it’s something the department needs, he said, he realizes it’s not something the city can afford unless they are able to find alternative funding via grants or other revenue sources.
In other action a property owner addressed council asking for her home on Democrat Hill to be annexed into the city. She said the main reason she wanted to be annexed was for police protection, among other city services. Mayor Jerry Callihan said they first needed to determine if her property was contiguous with any property currently within the city limits. That would make annexation easier, he said. City attorney Derrick Willis also advised the property owner to obtain a copy of the map for her property from the PVA office, as well as a copy of her deed.
Max Hammond also spoke to council, and brought them copies of documentation related to a grant FIVCO was helping the community secure for their storm sewer project. Council also entered into the first reading on a resolution authorizing the mayor’s office to sign the agreement with FIVCO for that project.
Council also accepted reports from the police department, code enforcement, and the treasurer, before entering into executive session. Following executive session council adjourned without taking any further action.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
