Grants help rehire 6 firefighters in Ind. city

By Holly Abrams
The Journal Gazette

HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Six Huntington firefighters laid off last year because of a budget shortfall will return to work next month, the Huntington fire chief said Monday.

The city's Board of Public Works and Safety on Monday approved use of more than $800,000 in federal grant money, which will pay for the salaries of six firefighters over a two-year period, Chief Matt Armstrong said.

Armstrong said he was pleased with the decision. A city fire station previously closed when the layoffs took effect last November will reopen, he added.

"Getting these guys back will help the safety of the community," Armstrong said. "Our response times out in that area will be a little bit quicker."

The station that will reopen is at 747 Condit St., on the city's east side.

The layoffs resulted from a budget shortfall because of an increased number of property tax refunds given to city taxpayers in 2008 and 2009. Those refunds totaled about $1.7 million and were not factored into the city's budget.

Mayor Steve Updike previously asked for layoffs at the fire department, saying it was operating at full force and could bear the cuts. With the return of the laid-off firefighters, the department will have a staff of 41 firefighters.

The firefighters will return to work between Aug. 15 and17. The money paying for their salaries comes from a grant of $817,350 the city fire department was awarded in May, courtesy of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security program. The program provides grants on a competitive basis to rural, urban and suburban fire departments.

The grant money runs through August 2012, Armstrong said.

Armstrong said Updike was out of town Monday, but he gave the board a written statement, indicating he supported approving the grant. Updike could not be reached for comment Monday.

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