The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department got the go-ahead from the city council to proceed with applications  for a FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant.
The grant would facilitate the hiring of firefighters for up to two years, with the city shouldering none of the cost.
The board members expressed some concern that they could get stuck with the tab for the salaries after the grant money runs out, but city fire chief Charlie Parker assured the mayor and aldermen that the city would be under no financial obligation to continue funding the positions with local money once funds from the grant are gone.
“The grant is a two-year total grant and it would be for hiring full-time personnel,” Parker told the board.
“It would go up to a max of $230,000 for salary supplements for that two years. That's the maximum amount. That doesn't mean that we will get the full amount but it could be some in part up to that for personnel. If we do get it, it will still need to be accepted by the board,”  Parker concluded.
“I don’t really see a down side to this,” said alderman Gayla Hendrix.
The aldermen voted unanimously to allow the department to apply for the money.
Parker said the city should be notified whether the grant money has been approved by September.
The board also scheduled a workshop for next Tuesday at 7 p.m. to discuss the prospects of buying a ladder truck now that grant money for that project has been denied.
“I think there is a lot of misinformation floating around about it (ladder truck), Parker said. “I think we should sit down in a workshop and discuss it. I don’t think the public has all the knowledge that they should, and I would like to invite the public, so they can be informed and voice tier opinions. I know we may not be able to make everyone a believer, but we can put the information out there and let them make tier own decisions.”
Parker told the board that prices are due to increase soon, and the truck could cost significantly more in the future.
He also suggested that the department might be able to find a truck used as a demonstrator at a lower price.
“There are some demos out there,” Parker said. “I think it is definitely worth looking into.”
Alderman Shaw Jacobs stressed that he would like the public to attend the workshop next week, so that they might gain information  on the subject, as well as making tier opinions known.
“We truly do want this to be a public meeting,” Jacobs said. “There is a tremendous amount of misinformation out there that somebody has plucked out of the stratosphere.”