Pinson City Council gives funding to Center Point, Palmerdale, and Glenwood fire districts

At its regular meeting on Thursday night, the Pinson City Council unanimously approved the release of funds to Palmerdale, Glenwood, and Center Point fire districts for firefighting equipment and materials, including rescue litters for carrying people during emergency situations.

The meeting was attended by Center Point Fire Chief Donnie West, Battalion Chief C Shift Commander Gene Coleman from Center Point and John Garner from Palmerdale Fire District.

Garner reported that his district has applied for a grant to purchase three Lifepak 15 heart monitors and three automatic CPR machines.

West added that Pinson has assisted the district over the years with cost-sharing opportunities for products such as fire hoses, ATV, chainsaws and Lifepaks. Recently the district purchased another rescue truck that was placed at Station 2, covering Pinson.

Now the district is trying to purchase other equipment and has asked the council to consider assisting. Among the items that the district is seeking to acquire are: air-bag system, individual thermal imager, strong arm extrication device, electric fans for ventilation and station and ground infrastructure remodeling.

“All this equipment, it’s stuff that’s all needed,” West said. “We try to prioritize everything.”

The council granted $12,500 to Center Point Fire District. Palmerdale was also given $12,500 and Glenwood was granted $500.

Stokes Baskets and Storm Shelters

Afterwards the council approved the purchase of Stokes baskets. Pinson Mayor Hoyt Sanders said that he was approached by West a month ago on purchasing Stokes baskets or rescue litters that can be placed at City Hall and in the fire stations. Three baskets were approved for $2,000 in total.

Sanders gave a report on the status of a storm shelter to be constructed in Palmerdale. He said that the design for the shelter is nearing completion.

“We do expect that to kick off in bids sometime in the second half of (2018),” he explained. “Which does tie in with our discussion and approval last time. What we’ll probably do just to make absolutely sure is move our (certificate of deposit) into weekly savings for six months.”

He said that FEMA will pay the city back 80 percent.

In other business, the council:

• Approved $1,140 for a bag toss game set at the Bicentennial Park;
• Approved $2,903 for a Dell Latitude that includes adapters and a monitor to be used by the city clerk;
• Approved $27,150 for paving the walkway track
• Announced that the City Hall custodian is retiring and discussed opening a part-time custodian position;
• Agreed to $700 for materials to a local youth to build a LEGO® replica of City Hall;
• Adopted the 2018-2019 budget and
• Paid the bills in the amount of $53,342.15.

The next Pinson City Council meeting will be held on July 5 with pre-council at 6:30 followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m.