Council Adds Fire Lane Ordinance

LINCOLN — City Council members agreed at the Feb. 10 meeting to amend the Lincoln Municipal Code and add a new ordinance known as the 2014 Fire Lane Ordinance, effective 30 days after its posting.

The ordinance states it shall be unlawful for any person to park any motor vehicle within a designated and marked fire lane.

Any person violating the ordinance can be fined if found guilty by a court with the first offense being no less than $1 and no more than $25. Future offenses, if by the the same person if found guilty, will increase to not less than $25 and not more than $100 for each offense.

The ordinance also states any unlawfully parked vehicles in a designated fire lane is subject to being towed on order by the Lincoln Police Department.

Each time any person or persons park any vehicle in a fire zone more than once, it will constitute a separate offense.

The ordinance received a unanimous vote from aldermen.

In other business, was a resolution to authorize Mayor Rob Hulse to apply for a grant to buy air packs for local firefighters.

Rhonda Hulse, water department supervisor and grant writer, said the grant would be under the Rural Fire Protection Grant, but because of the cost of the air packs the city would need to check on possible grant funds.

“It requires a 50-percent matching grant,” Hulse said, adding the city had hoped to purchase 10 new air packs for a cost of $7,000 but discovered that was the cost of only one air pack, which would make the cost $70,000.

“We have to check with the Rural Fire Protection people to see if they can fund a $35,000 grant,” Hulse said. “If they can, the city and rural fire department will get the matching funds.”

Council members agreed to table the resolution until the March meeting to give time for Hulse to check on the grant possibilities.

Jay Norton, fire department administrator, said the rescue air packs are important to firefighters.

“The devices are worn on

“I would like to thank the City of Lincoln Consolidated Maintenance workers for a job well done during the recent snow, for keeping the streets clear of snow and ice.” Rob Hulse Lincoln mayor

the back of firefighters for air supply when entering a structure fire,” Norton said. The Lincoln Fire Department’s current air packs are more than 20 years-old.

The council cast a unanimous vote for a resolution by the city to amend the budget for fiscal year 2013.

Mayor Hulse praised city employees for their work during the winter weather.

“I would like to thank the City of Lincoln Consolidated Maintenance workers for a job well done during the recent snow, for keeping the streets clear of snow and ice,” Hulse said.

The next Lincoln City Council meeting is set for 7 p.m., March 10 at City Hall.