Elyria to apply for grant for aerial fire truck

The Elyria Fire Department is planning to replace its ladder truck which is estimated to cost $1.3 million.

During an Elyria City Council meeting Feb. 1, Safety Service Director Kevin Brubaker said the city should apply for a grant to help defray the costs.

The grant, which is valued up to $1 million, is from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for assistance to firefighters, Brubaker said.

Typically, grant applications go through a series of discussions and have a longer timeframe than a week and half turnaround, he said.

However, Brubaker said the grant opportunity was presented with little time left to apply.

“This was a grant that laid out our feet about a week and a half ago, right after the last Council meeting,” he said. “There is a date of this Friday (Feb. 5) to submit this.

“Please understand, this is not the norm we want to do. In fact, you will see in a referral several other grants we have come across that there will be time to get those through the proper channels.”

Elyria fire Chief Carl Mack said the funds, if approved, will best be used for a new ladder truck.

The city’s current aerial truck has a manufacturing year of 2008 and in service since 2009, Mack said.

Typically, the lifespan of one of these trucks is 10 to 12 years, he said.

“That vehicle did not run on a daily basis,” Mack said. “But when we did close Station 2 when the economy went down, the closing of the fire station and the reduction of staffing did put that vehicle in a position that does respond to medical emergencies and special duties on the west and southwest of the city.

“There has been a lot more wear and tear and mileage.”

If the city were to receive the grant, it would have to match 10% of the $1 million, which is $100,000.

Brubaker said the funds can be paid out of Issue 6 funding.

If the grant is approved, the city likely will receive the truck in late 2020.

“It is a very competitive grant, but with the cost of an apparatus, I think it’s a very wise thing to do at this time,” Mack said. “I mean, regardless, we’ll have to plan to purchase one in the very near future.”

If the city were to receive the grant, it would have to match 10% of the $1 million, which is $100,000.

Brubaker