The 43-day government shutdown created some anxious moments for the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, Fire Chief Nick Tyler told district board members Tuesday night, Nov. 18.
As the shutdown continued, he said, he was faced with possible layoffs as Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements from the federal government dried up in October and early November.
Tyler said that with a week left in October, the department had received $13,000 in ambulance revenue, which was about one-tenth of its normal receipts for a month.
He said he started scrutinizing all the department’s spending and “we cut spending on anything above $500.”
“I was looking at everything. It was full-on panic.”
He told board members that although some money has trickled in from California, the district is still owed some $722,000 for firefighting operations in other parts of the state and the nation.
The resumption of federal government operations has started to trickle in, Tyuler said, adding that the district had collected $118,953 as of the meeting.
Also, he said, the district is waiting for reimbursements for the seismic retrofits to Station 23 in Crawfordsville. He told board members SHFAD had only received 12% of the full $722,000 it expected to receive from out-of-district firefighting and seismic grants.
“I’m in a much better mood right now,” he told the board. “I don’t think we’re looking at layoffs.”
He confirmed later that the district had received all $400,000 that it was owned from the California wildfires.
Board members also unanimously authorized the district to spend $550,000 each for two Type 6 brush engines, which, Tyler said, will be the final large purchases from the $3.33 million seven-year bond voters approved by voters in May 2024.
Lt. Josh Bondensen said the company he has been working with, Rebel Brush Trucks of Henderson, Nev., has cut the prices for the vehicles from “the $340,000 range,” which the department, especially Tyler, “was not too excited about,” to $275,000 each.
Rebel can deliver the vehicles within six months, and will pay $1,000 for each week it exceeds that deadline, which far exceeds other dealers, he said.
The district had come up with “things we could do on our own that would save us considerable money,” and had cut some features “we don’t particularly need” Bondesen said, and Rebel’s CEO agreed to the $275,000 price.
“There’s nothing else we need to add or take away that’s going to be big-ticket, price-wise,” he said. “I was very happy they worked with us.”
The brush trucks will be the Elite package, mounted on flatbeds.
Tyler noted to the board that when Sweet Home shows up at wildfires with quality equipment, that can be a recruiting tool for the department.
The district has already ordered two ambulances, which are scheduled to be delivered in February and September of next year, and has purchased a wood chipper for the Wildfire Risk Reduction Program.
Tyler said the only remaining items are upgrades to the department’s radio system.
In other action:
- Board Member Jim Yon volunteered to serve on a Health Insurance Committee that will review the district’s health insurance for its employees. Assistant Chief George Virtue will also serve on the committee, along with two union representatives. Tyler said a staffer from WHA Insurance Agency Inc. of Eugene, the district’s insurance provider, will assist the committee.
- Heard from department Chaplain Michael Caruso that he and his wife have responded to “60-plus” calls this year. He said they make rounds each week to check on staff, “how they are doing.” Also, Caruso reported, he and his wife are taking classes in stress adaptive protocol and counseling.
“We are constantly looking for things we can provide,” he said.