The FEMA grant sought by the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department to help buy a ladder truck and the equipment to outfit it has been denied.Fire Chief Charlie Parker told the city council Monday night that he has learned that the application for funds from FEMA has been turned down.Last June, the council voted last june to hire a grant writer to help the city in acquire funding for the truck.The fire department has voiced the need for a ladder truck for several months.Officials of the department have said that the vehicle is needed to reach some local structures that might be difficult to access in the event of a fire. Alderman Shawn Jacobs, who is also the police and fire commissioner, agrees with the firemen, and told the board of aldermen Monday night that the recent fire at City Walk Apartments demonstrated the need for the new truck.The council also approved the list of city volunteer firefighters and officers the department has chosen for the next calendar year.Those officers are Chief Charlie Parker, Deputy Chief Hoyte Hale, Captain Jeff Wright, and Lieutenants Danny Poss, Jon Poss, Anthony Wright, and Donnie Cantrell.Parker recognized several firefighters for their years of service to the department as well, including Kevin Adcock and Corey Killian for one year of service, Ronald Whitaker for three years and Glenn Lattimore for four years.Stephanie Wright has been with the department for six years, Gary Johnson and Randall Hunt for seven years, Wallace Caldwell for eight years, Charles Young, for 13 years and Wink Brown for 14 yearsGreg Bess has spent 17 years as photographer for the volunteers.Anthony Wright has served for 20 years, Jon Poss for 21 years, Jeff Wright, for 26 years and Hoyte Hale for 27 years.Danny Poss, Donnie Cantrell and Parker himself have served the fire department for 32 years.