City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  March 2, 2004

Item No.:         15

Recommendation:  That the Common Council authorize the Fire Chief to accept the 2003 FIRE ACT grant for fire sprinklers in Fire Station 1 and 2 in the amount of $39, 717.

Background:  The department applied for this grant under the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.  The award requires a 10% match of city funds to the 90% federal funding.  The grant will pay for sprinkler systems to protect Fire Station 1 and 2.  Fire Station 3 was built with a fire sprinkler system.

Fire stations have a significant risk of fire because they contain a large number of vehicles with large electrical and fuel loads, and a full set of residential fire hazards from the living quarters, and office fire loads as well.  In many cases under emergency conditions the staff may leave the stations with cooking appliances or other hazards left on.  Fire stations have a significant dollar value to the community both for the building and for the contents.  The loss of the fire and EMS vehicles alone would represent a very significant dollar loss, as well as the loss of the protection that the building and equipment provide to the community. The grant rules do not allow for payment for underground work to provide water supply to the system.  The department had proposed sprinklers for these stations in the 2007 CIP.  It is recommended that that project be downsized to provide for the underground connections in the 2005 CIP.  Budget figures for that option will be available by the Council meeting.

Fiscal Impact:  The project budget was set at $44,130 split $4,413 for the City and $39,717 for the Federal government.  Funds for the City portion will be available in the 2004 Fire Department CIP Account No. 04007.

Prepared and Approved by: Gerard R. Hammernik Fire Chief	Respectfully submitted, Beverly Buretta Acting City Administrator
Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk