Board Allocates $40,000 For New Command Vehicle
Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday, Oct. 10, allocated $40,000 for the purchase of a new fire department command vehicle and heard reports from Trustee Barb Griffith and Fire Chief Mickey Scott.
The new vehicle, a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, will replace the Chevrolet Suburban the department has used since 2004.
The current vehicle “has 116,675 miles and 5,100-plus hours on it” and has acquired several problems rendering it unreliable and unsafe, according to Scott.
Issues include a “broken and inoperable” rear hatch latch, malfunctioning key fob and broken door handles. The Suburban needs a front end alignment and the battery needs to be replaced.
The brakes recently failed while Scott was driving the vehicle, “fortunately not during an emergency run,” he said. He was able to eventually bring the Suburban to a stop without injury or property damage.
Griffith reported $24,601.78 in poor relief disbursements through September: $6,283.12 for rent, $17,500.62 for utilities, $216.52 for medical and dental assistance and $601.52 for food.
Scott reported the fire department:
• Has used 53 percent of its operations budget with 75 percent of the year elapsed.
• Responded to 113 emergency calls (20 fire and 93 EMS) in August and 113 calls (13 fire and 99 EMS) in September.
• Provided EMS standby and assisted with traffic control during the Aug. 13 Wawasee Kiwanis triathlon.
• Collected nonperishable foods and cleaning supplies to aid the victims of the recent tornadoes in Kokomo. “We would like to express our appreciation for those in our community that donated items to this cause,” Scott said.
• Raised $2,175.10 in the annual MDA boot drive Aug. 28.
• Held a public CPR class Aug. 31. Scott urged anyone interested in signing up for a free CPR course to call (574) 457-4100 or (574) 457-5507.
• Provided EMS standby for all Wawasee High School home varsity football games. “We are scheduled to provide this service at the final home game on Friday, Oct. 14,” noted Scott.
• Provided “personnel and apparatus” for the Bicentennial Torch Relay Sept. 29, and Wawasee High School homecoming parade Sept. 30.
• Obtained an estimate of $56,892 to “finish the upstairs portion of Station 2.”
“We would like to say thank you to the American Legion, Grace Lutheran Church and Oakwood Inn in Syracuse for providing events to honor the members of our department and to commemorate those who lost their life during the tragic events of 9/11,” Scott said.
The board will next meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at Syracuse Town Hall.