Ohio fire chief secures funding for radio upgrade

By Jim Brewer
The Daily Record

LOUDONVILLE, Ohio — After hearing a presentation by the assistant fire chief, council unanimously approved contributing $17,136 as the 20 percent village share of an $86,677 grant to purchase new radio communications equipment for the Loudonville Fire Department.

The grant represents Loudonville's share in an $802,000 Ashland County Firefighters Association grant received from the Federal Emergency Management Association for communication upgrades. Mike Carey noted federal law will require all fire services to upgrade communications systems to new standards by 2013.

"We would be crazy not to provide this match," Councilman Steve Stricklen said. "Otherwise, we would have to pay for it all."

Council on Monday also approved paying $24,000 to install a new roof on the fire department building. Pelton Roofing, Ashland, submitted the low bid to install a new white vinyl roof on the North Market Street fire department building.

Carey noted funds for both the grant match and the roof are already available in the village's fire levy fund.

Councilman Carl Smith asked Mayor Stewart Zody about the status of putting a supplemental emergency siren on the southeast side of the village so residents of that area can hear it. Carey said the fire department is seeking funding for such a project, but had yet to secure it.

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