During Thursday night’s committee of the whole meeting of the county commission, County Mayor Tim Stribling said he was informed this past week by a USDA Rural Development representative that DeKalb County is eligible to apply for a $250,000 USDA Community Facility Grant. Under this grant match program, USDA funds 55% or $137,500 while the county would be responsible for a 45% local match or $112,500 . This is a reimbursable grant meaning the county would have to pay up front and then be reimbursed 55% of the cost. Although USDA prefers the county buy a new fire truck with the grant money it could purchase a used one. Stribling said due to the census, USDA requires that the truck be placed in the western portion of the county which has two stations at Liberty and Temperance Hall.

Stribling said if the county commission wants to apply for the grant it must act Monday night during the next regular monthly meeting because the application must be filed by mid-February.

Under the same grant program, the county was approved for two grants in 2017 totaling $88,800 with a local match to fund three used fire trucks which are now in the fleet including a 1996 Ferrara International Model truck for the Temperance Hall Community Fire Hall, a 1992 Pierce model fire truck for the Cookeville Highway Fire Station which was purchased from the City of Smithville, and a 1993 E-One International model fire truck for the Four Seasons Fire Hall.

Two months ago the county commission voted 11-3 to spend up to $250,000 from the capital projects account of the county budget to buy two other used fire trucks to replace homemade trucks which had been in the fleet for several years and could no longer pass inspection. Those trucks have now been purchased.

The county has also replaced a fire truck which was totaled in a recent crash on Allen Ferry Road from insurance coverage.