Turkey Creek Township Trustee Barb Griffith, left, and board members John Heckaman, Dennis Darr and Sylvia Gargett pledge allegiance before their monthly meeting. (Photo by Ray Balogh)

SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board at its Monday, April 9, meeting approved a request from Fire Chief Mickey Scott to purchase five new SCBAs and 12 SCBA bottles to update the department’s equipment.

Scott requested $34,435.70 plus “about $150 to $200” in shipping costs, which represented the lower of two quotes he obtained for the purchase.

The board unanimously approved the request, which will be taken to Syracuse Town Council for final approval.

The township had budgeted $35,000 in the equipment replacement fund for 2018 for the purchases. Next year the department will complete the upgrade by purchasing the last five units.

Township attorney Andrew Grossnickle reported the applications for construction design release for both the territory’s fire stations were approved by the state. He told the board he invited architect Jim Malcolm to attend the May meeting to review the plans.

“None of the things in the construction designs have to be included in the final project,” he said. “The board can ask questions and make recommendations at the next meeting.”

Board members acknowledged receipt of the designs Grossnickle sent them before Monday’s meeting.

Township Trustee Barb Griffith presented her March financial report, noting there were no significant changes except a spike in poor relief assistance for utilities.

The township’s payments to NIPSCO totaled $2,967.83 in March, roughly equal to the combined assistance for January and February. Griffith attributed the uptick to the board’s approval to raise the maximum payout per recipient at its March meeting.

The township also doled out $450 for rent, $150 for food and $61.48 for medical and dental assistance. Griffith also announced the township switched its two operating bank accounts to earn more interest.

“Now we get about three times the amount of interest we were getting before,” she said.

Scott also reported:

• Department personnel underwent 531 hours of training in March.

• All territory warning sirens were tested and found to be in good working order.

• The eight-hour emergency response training exercise hosted by the department drew 37 participants. The class was held March 10 at Syracuse Community Center and the simulated a derailment involving hazardous liquids.

• As of the end of the first quarter of 2018, the department used only 15.6 percent of its budget.

• The department held two CPR/AED classes in March. The classes are free to the public and anyone interested in attending a class may call (574) 457-4100 or (574) 457-5507.

The board will next meet at 7 p.m. Monday, May 14, at Syracuse Town Hall.