After a week to think about it, Allen County commissioner decided to give LaHarpe $31,962 for additions to its rural volunteer fire department.
Commissioner Bill King said, I thought it was a reasonable request. They werent asking for the whole thing. They were putting up $31,962 themselves.
King added he didnt think they should take up LaHarpes offer to repay the money.
I dont want them to pay it back. I think we should help them out.
Waverly Construction put in a bid of $63,925 to make a 15-foot addition to the east end of the building to the alley and to add six inches of concrete to the additions floor.
Construction is supposed to begin next spring.
PUBLIC WORKS director Mitch Garner reported that if things stay dry, the groundwork for the Humboldt ambulance barn should be completed soon. Garner said it is still too wet to begin work on the ambulance barn in Moran.
Garner said the county hired a new lead mechanic, and now is just one worker away from being fully staffed.
Though not on the agenda, Angela Murphy, director of emergency communications and emergency management, reported she applied and received a 911 grant, which she will use to pay for a quality assurance program.
The 911 center provides medical and fire services. So if someone calls we give pre-arrival instructions over the phone, Murphy said. In doing so, we have a quality assurance program where we review our own work and make sure it is up to standards. This process has become overbearing for us. So I reached out to the company that provides our software, National Priority Dispatch, and asked about them grading our calls and giving us feedback.
Murphy said the company gave her a quote of $35,000 for a year of service. Murphy then applied for a grant and received $21,000. Commissioners approved Murphys request to pull $14,000 out of 911 funds to pay for the remainder.
