In December 2007, Pleasant Township Fire Chief Jay Noojin addressed to the Pleasant Township Board of Trustees his desire to purchase a new ambulance before the latest vehicular upgrades set the price standard to $30,000.
At the Feb. 26 meeting, the board approved the contract to finalize the purchase.
The price of the Horton 623 is approximately $178,000, but the fire department wants to add modifications, which will up the price to $188,000.
"We don’t want to exceed $190,000," said Chairman Keith Goldhardt. "The township has a fire fund which pays for the fire department operation, but the money for this purchase will be taken out of the general fund."
The additional specifications the department wants are a new radio, headsets and cots that can hold up to 700 pounds instead of the standard 300 pounds.
The department currently has two medics, a 1997 model, and a 2003 model. The new ambulance will replace the 1997 medic, which will either be kept for emergency purposes, or given to a volunteer organization.
The 2009 medic will be the first line vehicle, meaning it is the first one to respond when a call is place, and the 2003 medic will be the back up, or the second out.
Noojin said all medics have at least 10 years of service in them, and the township’s emergency vehicles average 67 medical runs per year.
However, since the 2009 medic has yet to be assembled, it will take some time before it gets to the station.
"Once we all sign the paper, it will be at least nine months before delivery," Noojin said.
In other news
A $28,500 grant has been given to the township’s fire department from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through their Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.
"We’ve been trying for a couple of years to get this grant and we’re blessed we did it right this year," Noojin said.
He added that he had problems in the past getting this particular grant because he did not think he got the correct wording right to apply for this type of assistance.
"It wasn’t a one man show, there were a lot of people involved," he said. "I also have to give Chief Sheets (with the Jackson Township Fire Department) a lot of credit for helping."
The grant is for an air purification system for the apparatus bays to protect the occupants in the station from diesel fumes when the ambulances and fire trucks are started up.
Diesel exhaust contains nitrogen oxides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxides and carbon monoxides.
"We don’t want all of that stuff going into the building and affecting the living and sleeping quarters," said Noojin.
The township is currently taking bids from air filtration companies. Any cost that goes over the grant money will have to be paid by the fire department.
They have one year from the grant-received date to complete the job before it is void.
The station also received a $900 grant for their participation and diligence in the Working Partners for an Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace program.
