Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood Township — The township’s volunteer fire department is getting some new gear for Christmas after the township’s board of trustees approved the purchase of six sets of turnout gear Monday.
Fire Chief Scott Carlson said there was enough in his equipment budget to purchase three sets of gear.
“Six sets will cost approximately $14,000. I’ve got $6,500 in my equipment budget now,” he said, asking the board for permission to buy six sets and amend his budget to move money left over in various other fire department line items to cover the remaining cost.
Based on the board’s discussion, the rest of the cost is expected to come from excess funds left in the wages and vehicle maintenance accounts.
The gear should be replaced after a decade, according to national standards, with township supervisor Steve Boyd saying six of the department’s sets have been used for at least 15 years.
Carlson stressed the turnout gear, which is basically what the firefighters wear when fighting a fire, is crucial to their jobs.
“This is stuff we need to have to fight fires,” he said.
He told the board he has 17 firemen in the department and estimated there were probably five sets of really good gear.
Carlson said the department is always cautious with spending money, as he said he is always worried there will be a big fire that takes a lot of resources to fight.
The department is also working on adding turnout gear to the various pieces of equipment the department replaces on a rotating basis so the purchases can be spaced out rather than come all at once.
While the board gave Carlson permission to make the purchase, the transfer of funds between accounts will be done as a budget amendment at a special meeting the board will have at 1 p.m. Dec. 29.
The meeting will to take care of various last-minute budget amendments that have arisen to sure the budget lines up with the actual amounts the township has spent and taken in over the last year.
In other action:
—The board passed several budget amendments to balance most of the budget. With changes to both the revenue and expenditures side of the budget; the amendments mostly cancel out, with an extra $10 needed from the township’s fund balance. Among the significant changes were an $11,000 increase to the cost budgeted for roads, as well as an increase for the amount of the forensic audit and legal fees.
—Treasurer Maria Graser announced she had appointed Joanne Carlson as her deputy. Boyd announced he had decided to have a deputy supervisor and appointed LeRoy Johnson to the position. Boyd said he thought it was important for there to be someone to handle any responsibilities in the rare times he wouldn’t be present. Johnson will be paid $150 a year for the position.
—The board approved adding Shane Condon to the volunteer fire department and the department’s officers being elected to another term in office.
—The board authorized Boyd to seek bids for a new furnace at the township’s garage on Lake Road across from the township hall. The current one leaking exhaust into the building and not supplying heat. While someone is coming to see if it can be repaired, early indications didn’t look optimistic.
