A budgetary shortcut could cost the city $200,000.
Sharie Minions was in her early 20’s when she watched from the gallery as the city council of the day fought to cut costs in the fire department budget.
7 years later as Mayor, she’s now dealing with the fallout from their decision to switch to discount-priced self-contained breathing apparatuses, which are failing at an alarming rate, and the fire department is asking to go back to the original manufacturer.
“This is a great example of a choice that was made that is now costing us hundreds of thosands of dollars to keep the people who are working for us safe,” she said. “We really need to do all we can to balance cost, quality and safety.”
In 2013, city council chose to switch the fire departments breathing units to a new brand, in order to save some money.
Now, that lower cost equipment is putting lives in danger according to Fire Chief Mike Owens, who is urging city council to switch back to the original brand.
“We have faith in the original manufacturer, not only because we’re familiar with the company and were relatively issue-free previously, but on a move-forward basis with that as-long-as-you-own-it warrantee, we’re confident those packs will last us for their intended life,” he said.
Owens said one of the major benefits, is the equipment is warranteed for as long as the city owns it, and is the same brand as all other local fire departments use.
The cost of replacing the critical breathing units is close to $200,000, or $100,000 to repair the old units. The issue will be debated at further budget sessions.
