By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Barton County Commissioners followed their own brief meeting Wednesday morning with an agenda meeting for Fire District No. 1. County Administrator Matt Patzner presented the issue to the body of commissioners.
"Fire District No. 1 was created to provide fire protection to a portion of northeastern Barton County," he said. "It's financed by the city of Claflin, Cheyenne, Independent, and Logan Townships. The board will now consider transferring remaining 2022 funds to the fire district's special equipment fund."
The commission approved the transfer of $20,000 to the special equipment fund, which was budgeted, and which will help the fire district remain revenue neutral in 2024. Claflin Fire Chief Doug Hubbard said the transfer brings the special equipment budget to approximately $115,000, some of which will be used to purchase air packs for firefighters.
"The air pack project is going to take about $130,000," Hubbard said. "We've got grants out there. Hopefully, we can get $50 or $60,000 of that paid for with the grants we have out. We won't burden our special equipment fund quite as much."
Last November, Hubbard reported to the commission the district had received grants for new personal protective equipment and a new extractor washing machine. Wednesday morning, he reported those grants were completed and the district was waiting on reimbursement from the state fire marshal's office.