By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post
The Alliance City Council approved the Alliance Fire Department Training Facility resolution during its Nov. 16 meeting.
The Alliance Volunteer Fire Department budgeted $290,000 for the fire training facility in the 2021-2022 city budget.
AVFD has been working with Fire Training Structures LLC for nearly a year to come up with a plan that would meet the departments requirements. The facility will cost $284,971.
"Chief I think this was in the budget when I first came on three years ago," Alliance Mayor Mike Dafney said. "I got to give you credit for hanging in there."
"This was more a partnership between the city, The Alliance Rural Fire Protection District, Alliance Volunteer Fire Department Incorporated and we had a private donor help us reach the goal," Alliance Fire Department Chief Troy Shoemaker said. "We're still working on raising some funds so we can do some pipe preparation, mainly pouring those footings."
Shoemaker said this is the closest the fire department has been to making this a reality.
"We've had great councils before, we have a great council now that's been supportive of the fire department since I've been here," Shoemaker said. "In order for us to be better, we need this. In order for us to help you, we need this. With this we have the ability amongst other things to get a better ISO (Insurance Services Office) classification, which in turn hopefully lowers home owners insurance policy premiums. It's a win-win for all of us...not just a win for the fire department, it's a win for our entire community."
Councilman John McGhehey asked Chief Shoemaker if other fire departments could use this facility to help generate some income.
"Yes," Shoemaker said. "One that comes to mind...for doing some testing would be Hemingford...it would be the closest one. But, yeah we could probably work something out."
The Alliance Police Department could also use this facility for training officers.
"We hope to have our firefighters trained better than they already are and make it safer for them to do their jobs," Alliance City Manager Seth Sorenson said. "I really got to give some thanks to the volunteer firefighters, who they themselves donated money to this as well as the volunteer fire department. We also had an anonymous donor donate $5,000 to make this project possible. It truly is a sign of the dedication of the fight fighters and the city council to improve the condition for everybody."
In other business, council:
-Approved the dispatch services agreement between the Alliance Police Department and Box Butte County Sheriff's Office. This will provide cost reimbursement for the APD to provide dispatch services for the Box Butte County Sherriff's Office, Hemingford Police Department and Hemingford Volunteer Fire Department.
-Approved the police fleet maintenance services bid award to Alliance Motors Unlimited. The contract is for three years.
-Approved to purchase a 2022 Freightliner Refuse truck from KOIS Brothers Equipment Company for $241,012.
-Approved the arsenic treatment facilities equipment replacement and repairs for $202,030.60 from Layne Christensen Company to repair well values and filter media replacements.
-Approved the purchase of a John Deere 310 SL Backhoe Front-End Loader from Murphy Tractor and Equipment of Gering for $127,620. This will be used in the city Water Department.