Goessel to become county’s 4th rescue squad
Staff writer
Goessel fire department will become the county’s fourth rescue team after county commissioners approved purchasing $29,590 worth of rescue equipment with county emergency medical services money.
The department will contribute $3,590 toward the purchase.
Goessel fire chief Matt Voth said the extrication tools being purchased are the same as used by Marion, Hillsboro, and Peabody fire departments. Batteries are interchangeable.
Goessel fire department’s board already had approved $3,590 toward the equipment purchase because the price exceeds the $26,000 allotted to the emergency medical services department for rescue equipment.
Goessel fire department has been training and acquiring equipment to become a primary rescue department, Voth said.
Rescue equipment wasn’t needed but firefighting equipment was when a battery in one of the department’s Motorola radios exploded in a firefighter’s home Oct. 30, Voth told commissioners.
The radio had been on a kitchen counter, plugged in to recharge, when the battery exploded and the radio caught fire, damaging the kitchen countertop, he said.
The firefighter was home when it happened and put the fire out, but the department could end up having to take legal action against Motorola, Voth told commissioners.
A contractor is expected to meet with the firefighter in coming days.
In other business, commissioners voted to renew a liquor license for Last Chance Bait Shop.
Accountant Scot Loyd brought commissioners a 42-page proposed policy on how to award American Rescue Plan money and future federal money.
Commissioners approved purchase of a $4,450 Kyocera copier for the health department and payment of $88.90 a month to lease a Konica Minolta copier for the treasurer’s department.