By Melinda J. Overstreet
The Glasgow Daily Times
PARK CITY, Ky. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a grant for the Park City Volunteer Fire Department that will be used to replace a 1985 International truck the department modified itself for use as a water tanker.
A press release from U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office announced the award of $247,620 from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program Friday.
“This is great news for the Park City Volunteer Fire Department, and I was pleased to work with Chief [Ronnie] Stinson to help make it happen,” McConnell said via the press release. “This funding will help the department replace their only water-tanker trunk, which is outdated and has been repeatedly out of service. The new vehicle will help them better serve the community and keep people safe.”
Stinson is quoted in the press release as saying: “We appreciate Senator McConnell’s assistance in securing this grant. Procuring a new tanker truck for our department is critical to continuing to provide adequate fire protection to Park City and the surrounding area.”
Stinson, who has been with the department since 1989 and chief for all but two years since 1995, told the Daily Times that McConnell provided a letter of support, as requested, to go with the grant application.
The old tanker used to be an oxygen-tank delivery truck with a flat bed.
“I think we bought it around 1996 and made it [what it is],” he said, roughly estimating it has 200,000 miles on it.
“It had major issues, electrical and water leaks, and we just tried to keep it in service as long as we could,” Stinson said. “It was one of those things where we were working on it every time we used it.”
The Park City City Commission approved a resolution for the department to apply, and the request was submitted in November, he said.
Now that the funding is secured, the purchase will go through a bid process and the truck will have to be built, so it may be six months or more before it actually arrives, Stinson said.
The truck provides a means for the department to take a water supply to places where there is no hydrant, including along Interstate 65, where the department frequently responds to vehicle fires and has to shuttle water, the chief said. Approximately 21,000 gallons of water were carried there in 2015, he said.
The new truck will hold 2,500 gallons, the same capacity as what they have now, he said.
The department will be responsible for 5 percent of the total cost, but Stinson said it has the funds.
“I’ve been saving for a few years now for this, trying to get this,” he said. “But if anyone would like to make an extra donation, it will be accepted. I’ve been lucky. I’ve kept a good department for the last 20 years, but it’s been hard sometimes, just barely scrimping by.”
Unless something major happens unexpectedly, this should put them in good shape for a couple of years truck-wise, Stinson said in the phone interview.
“I try to save a little bit each year, just in case,” he said.
Stinson said he appreciated the help from McConnell and the support from the community and city.
“They’ve been awfully good to me over the years,” he said.
Copyright 2016 the Glasgow Daily Times