By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The Juab Special Service Fire District brought in
$1,264,615 in equipment grant revenues since it was created
in 2001.
"The creation of the fire district made it possible
for these grants to be obtained," said Neil Cook, county
commission chairman. "They would not have come to our county
without the special service district."
In addition, he said, by the community fire
departments working together in the special service
district, additional capital purchases within existing
budgets were made.
The monies enabled all fire departments in the county
to receive needed help. This also did not happen before the
fire district was created.
Eureka Fire Department received a new structure fire
truck valued at $250,000 and various other Equipment Grants
to the tune of $104,285.
"A grant request is in process for a new fire station
for Eureka," said Cook.
The Levan Fire Department also received a new brush
fire truck valued at $75,000 and paid off an existing fire
truck loan of $24,000. Property was purchased for a new fire
station at a price of $45,900 and various other Equipment
Grants brought in $121,254.
Levan has a grant request for a new fire station in
process.
Mona Fire Department was able to pay off an existing
fire truck loan of $64,000, obtained a new structure fire
truck at $261,091 and was able to build a new two-bay
addition to the existing fire station valued at $68,000.
"They have received various other equipment grants at
a value of $50,621," said Cook.
Nephi Fire Department's building and property donation
amounted to $175,000. The district assumed and re-financed
Nephi's new structure fire truck loan in full at $285,000
and paid for a fire truck tank repair costing $15,000.
Nephi has received various other Equipment Grants
amounted to $181,972.
Rocky Ridge Fire Department is planning to acquire
property for a future fire station, said Cook. They are also
planning for a new fire truck.
They have received various Equipment Grants at
$126,825 and a donated heavy brush truck valued at
$20,00.
West Desert Fire Department obtained a new structure
fire truck for $112,000 and various other Equipment Grants
for $269,844. They also have a grant request in process for
a new fire station.
The fire district administration obtained money for
immunizations and various Equipment Grants totaling
$92,987.
These are accomplishments from January 1, 2001 to
September 7, 2006," said Cook.
Robert Steele, commissioner, said it was important to
understand that the fire district had been able to attract
so much grant money because it was a special service
district.
"This is an important issue to understand," he said.
"This money could have gone to another county. It is not
money coming out of our county budget but is money that
helps out our county residents."
He said the grant money was just that--grant
money.
"Mike Seely," he said, "worked hard on these grants
and did a good job writing them."
Juab Special Service Fire District, for example,
obtained a Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety grant of
$87,380 in November 2003 and, this year (2006) obtained a
fire department assistance grant, an interagency,
cooperative program, administered by the Division of
Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL), to provide financial
assistance to Utah's fire departments.
"There were many grants that came in between because
of the creation of the district," he said.
The Eureka Fire Department received $4,500; Juab
County Fire Department received $7,690; Levan Fire
Department received $3,932; Mona Fire Department received
$7,660; and the Nephi Fire Department received $15,504 all
from that source.
Mike Seely serves as administrator and a board runs
the district.
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