City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:  1/4/05

Item No.:         3

Recommendation:  That the Common Council authorize the Fire Chief to accept the 2004 FIRE ACT grant for ventilation systems in Fire Stations 1, 2 and 3 in the amount of $173,567.

Background:  The department applied for this grant under the 2004 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.  The award requires a 10% match of city funds to the 90% federal funding.  The grant will pay for ventilation systems that will connect exhaust hoses to the vehicles and vent exhaust fumes from the building while the vehicles are entering or exiting the buildings.

The apparatus garages are attached to the living quarters of the stations. This means that exhaust from the vehicles can be present both in the apparatus areas and the living quarters.  Because the fire fighters spend 24 hours at a time in the building they have significant exposure to these fumes.  Vehicle exhausts, particularly diesel exhaust has been shown to contain numerous carcinogens.  The fire union and fire management have been working together to find a solution to this problem.  Asst. Chief Rosandich wrote for this grant in March of 2004.  On Dec. 22, 2004 we were notified that the grant had been approved.

There will be some modifications needed to vehicle exhaust pipes to connect to the systems.  City Garage will provide the labor for those modifications.

Fiscal Impact:  The project budget was set at $192,853, split $19,286 for the City and $173,567 for the Federal government.  Funds for the City portion are available in the 1998 Control Account.

Prepared and Approved by: Gerard R. Hammernik Fire Chief	Respectfully submitted, Barbara S. Blumenfield, Ph.D. City Administrator
Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk