Geary County Emergency Management officials have submitted a proposal to the county commission for use of funding to upgrade some rural fire stations. There could be insurance benefits for some rural residents, said Emergency Management Director Garry Berges. "Right now anybody that lives out in the county, if they're within five miles of a recognized fire station by ISO, which is an insurance rating deal they get a reduction on their homeowner's. "
Berges said that type of fire station has a Class A pumper truck, and at the present only five of the nine rural county fire stations have that truck, meaning many residents are not covered by Class A pumper trucks. They're asking that the older one-bay stations be removed with new stations being built in their place. "Be a two-bay station, one to carry the brush truck that's in there." The second bay would hold a Class A pumper.
If approved, Berges noted that could save the taxpayers money because better stations that are better equipped would exist, and homeowners could save anywhere from $150 to $500 per year if they live within five miles of one of these stations. That could impact about 230 rural residents. Final action on the proposal has not yet occurred.
Cost estimate per station would be about $100,000. Again..... ARPA federal stimulus money would be used to cover that cost.