By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
At the end of May, Claflin Fire Chief Doug Hubbard asked the Barton County Commission for a transfer of money into Fire District No. 1's special equipment fund. Bids for self-contained air packs came in a little higher than expected, and the department remains about $29,000 short of the purchase. Rather than asking for more money and exceeding revenue neutral in the 2024 budget, Hubbard said the department will continue to wait on grants to purchase the air packs.
"We're not just relying on tax dollars," he told the commission. "We're working pretty hard to get some of the funding that's out there and available."
The district has already made use of grants over tax dollars to purchase bunker gear and an extractor washing machine. Hubbard said the department is working on a local grant and a FEMA grant to help cover the cost of the air packs before making a purchase.
Like the Larned and Hoisington fire departments, District No. 1 did receive a grant from Anheuser-Busch. The good news is the beer maker delivered 96 cases of canned water to the department. The bad news is they look just like adult beverage cans, though the contents are clearly printed on each can.
"If you see us out on a fire scene and you see us drinking out of a can that says Anheueser-Busch, it's water," Hubbard joked.
Fire District No. 1 is located in Claflin and serves the northeast section of the county. The department currently has $101,000 in its special equipment fund, and the air packs carry an expected price tag of $130,000.