Purchases for pool, fire dept. approved
By Melinda L. Lucas
Albany city council members heard a report from pool manager Meg Walser and discussed at length several requests from the Albany Volunteer Fire Department for reimbursement and new purchases during a meeting on Monday, June 12.
Walser, who is operating the pool singlehandedly after several years of two or more managers, said that she relies on a few “head lifeguards” to help.
She requested several new safety packs and plastic whistles, and when she was asked about other needs, Walser mentioned that the hard plastic rescue tubes obtained for this year are not as easy to use as rubber ones. The council approved all the purchases.
Mayor Susan Montgomery complimented Walser on the state of the pool and her rapport with student lifeguards, adding that a lot of families from out of town come to the park.
Fire Department
Fire chief Joel Viertel presented a list of items, asking that the funds come from the fire department’s restricted fund regulated by the council.
Viertel asked for reimbursement for $11,100 for refurbished breathing apparatus – 9 bottles and 8 tanks already purchased.
He said that there were only 2 packs operating at a recent major fire, and for the safety of the volunteers, he needed to order them quickly.
Viertel also requested approval for 9 sets of bunker gear (jacket and pants) at a cost of $34,558 (8 months out from order date), 8 sets Tecgen rescue/wildland gear for $6,960, and 8 batteries for $1,600, totalling $43,118.
The chief explained that there are 8-10 firefighters showing up for each fire, and there is not enough gear in sufficient sizes that is in compliance to outfit all of them. At present, there are 20+ active firefighters, although some of them don’t want bunker gear.
After a lengthy discussion and a decision to keep a balance of at least $250,000 in the restricted account, the purchases were approved, with motions by Austin Sherwood and Lester Galbreath.
