Volunteer fire departments to receive city’s surplus hoses

BENTONVILLE — Three volunteer fire departments will soon put to use surplus hose from the city’s Fire Department.

The City Council voted 7-0 at its meeting Tuesday for 107 sections of hose to be declared surplus and sent to the Cave Springs, Avoca and Stella fire departments. Council member Chad Goss was absent.

The surplus hose came from the city department’s three-year program to bring its water hoses in line with current National Fire Protection Agency guidelines for career fire departments, Brent Boydston, fire chief, explained in a memo to council.

The surplus hose is anywhere from 6 to 30 years old and is either beyond the recommended service life of 10 years or doesn’t meet the needed flow capabilities for the city, he said.

There was no discussion among council members before the vote was taken.

Similarly, the Police Department has donated surplus cars to smaller area police departments.

The City Council also approved spending $46,293 on a power cot and loading system for a Fire Department ambulance.

The cot and loading system has better technology that will protect paramedics and emergency medical technicians from back strain and cumulative spinal compression as well as better secure the cot in the event of an accident, Boydston explained in a memo to council members.

The retirement of the city’s first animal services supervisor was acknowledged with a resolution and standing ovation at Tuesday’s meeting.

John Arnold’s last day of his 48-year career in public safety-related services is Friday as he will enter retirement. Arnold served more than 24 of those years with the city’s Police Department.

Police Chief Jon Simpson said he’s worked with Arnold since Simpson has been with the department.

“John Arnold truly sets the standard for city employee for loyalty, capability and commitment to his job,” Simpson said. “There will never be anyone that will out pace him in that manner.”

Mayor Bob McCaslin recapped Arnold’s career beginning when he joined the Army in 1969 and served in the Vietnam War.

Arnold served on a couple of police departments in Maine and did a short stint in the private security sector before joining the Bentonville department in 1993 as the city’s only animal services officer, according to the resolution.

Arnold was promoted to animal services supervisor in 2014, becoming the city’s first. In that position, he developed ordinances, training protocols and operating procedures.

Council members stood and applauded after the resolution was read.

“You made us a better place,” McCaslin said. “Thank you, John.”

McCaslin also read a proclamation declaring May 20 to 26 as “Emergency Medical Services Week.”