Homer to seek grant funds to finish fire department

Charlie Armentrout, of engineering firm Armentrout Matheny Thurmond Consulting Group P.C., reported to the council at a meeting alst week that an estimated value of the completed project to the original plans with minor additions would be around $2.2 million. Armentrout also stated that for the city to complete the project to specifications and additions would be around $320,000. Additions to the plans include: using excess blocks for an outside storage shed, a pavilion for use for fundraisers by the department, additional interior storage in the truck bay, furniture and fixture allowances, appliances allowance and upgrading the kitchen unit to commercial quality.

The city already has about 85-90 percent invested into the project, which can be used as leverage to secure the grant from USDA Rural Development. The council will now wait for a response from the USDA before making a decision.

In other business at last week’s meeting, city clerk Carol Ayers was presented with a plaque for 25 years of service to the city by the council. The council also approved a motion to begin awarding city employees who reach each five year milestone in city employment with a bonus of $10 per year of service. For instance, after five years the employee receives $50, 10 years - $100, 20 years - $200, and so forth.

On another matter, the council agreed to look into issues with county animal control operating inside the city. It was suggested that the city might have to provide insurance coverage for the county worker, but according to Homer’s policy, county employees are ineligible for coverage. City attorney Gary Freeman suggested that the inner-government agreement should cover the agreement with animal control. Mayor Doug Cheek said he would speak with the county.

Also at the meeting, Don Henderson approached the council with a complaint about abandoned and hazardous trailers on Woodland and Chambers streets. Henderson said that he had received a letter in the summer that said he needed to cleanup his property, which he did at a significant cost; now he is requesting the same action be taken for neighboring properties which he calls a “city nuisance.”

The council said that the matter would be looked at and appropriate action would be taken.

The council also received the monthly fire department reports for October and November. In October there were 16 calls and four hours of training, while during November there were 14 calls and five hours of training. The department also completed the annual hydrant inspection, testes both pumper trucks and set a training calendar for 2011. The department is still working on pre-fire plans and expects to complete those by the end of the month.