Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday, May 14, unanimously voted to request bids for improvements to the fire territory’s two stations. Architect Jim Malcolm was on hand to answer questions about the improvement plans and the bidding process.

“We have been working on these building improvements for almost two years now,” said Fire Chief Mickey Scott. “We have conducted endless hours of research into this project over this time period to provide the best and most thorough information we can.”

Township Trustee Barb Griffith presented her monthly report, noting her office dispensed $2,308.33 in poor relief: $400 for rent, $1,560.16 in utilities and $348.17 for food.

The utility disbursement was significantly down from March’s $3,906.30 figure. Griffith attributed the decline to the moderating weather. “A lot of people have been coming in telling me they have turned off their furnaces,” she said.

Scott presented his April report, stating:

• The department prevented any property loss in the territory during its 13 fire responses.

• The department also made 93 EMS runs. “As of the end of April, we have had a total of 449 fire and EMS emergency responses,” said Scott. “This is an approximate average of four emergency runs daily.”

• Department personnel completed 397 hours of training, including cardio and weight training, operation checks, preplans for local businesses, removing a downed firefighter out of a stairway, CPR, vacuum tanker operations and proper ventilation for traumatic brain injury and cardiac arrest patients.

• A recent annual inspection confirmed all ground ladders and aerial in good working order. “The certification of completion of the testing was sent to our insurance provider to maintain insurance coverage on the apparatus,” said Scott.

• The department received new stabilization equipment for vehicle rescue.

• The 2008 ambulance is undergoing repairs. “It was found that all eight fuel injectors, one glow plug and the fuel injector pump need replacement,” said Scott, who estimated the cost at between $5,000 and $6,000. The ambulance is scheduled for replacement in two years.

• The fire suppression hood system at the new Taco Bell in Syracuse passed its test.

“We also participated in the fire inspection or reinspection of several other business locations within the Turkey Creek Fire Territory protection area and will follow up with the business owners with reinspections if any fire code violations were noted during the initial inspections,” Scott said.

“These inspections are for the safety of everyone in the buildings, including employees, customers, etc., in the event of a fire.”

The board will next meet at 7 p.m. Monday, June 11, at Syracuse Town Hall.