Kittanning Hose Company #6 Confirms Property Ownership
Kittanning Hose Company #6 encouraged Borough Council to keep the fire protection line items in the budget intact, stating all three fire departments are needed in the borough.
by Jonathan Weaver
As Kittanning Borough Council members ponder demand and ownership of three borough fire departments, one company says it is standing on its own.
Kittanning Hose Company #6 Fire Chief Scott Kline and Assistant Fire Chief Rob Shick confirmed the department has purchased several vehicles and land lots without borough financing at this month’s borough council meeting.
Shick said money for the property was independently raised by the company.
“We bought the property – the borough didn’t have a large investment in it. Any of the money that was spent up here on the property, the fire department raised,” Shick said.
Kline
The seven land lots and five vehicles are also insured through the fire company.
The current fire station, located on two lots at 1360 Orr Ave. was purchased by Wick Boro #2 Fire Department for $640, $320 per lot.
Kline confirmed five vehicles purchased since 1995 are currently in-use by the company. Another vehicle was also purchased by the company in 1988, but was retired and sold to a New York department.
“All of these with no cost to the taxpayers,” Kline said.
Much of the company's equipment, including this 2009 engine truck, were purchased through community grants and company fundraisers instead of relying on public tax dollars.
Information was gathered by the original property deeds, while information gathered by Ward #1 Council Member Cindy Housley and County Solicitor Chase McClister was gathered by paper copies of current improper tax documents.
McClister said borough property records were transcribed into the computer wrongfully in 1986 and were thought to be correct until now. He said the mistake is currently being corrected.
A mini pumper owned by the borough was sold to Dayton, of which the $10,000 received was donated back to the company for equipment.
The borough currently operates under a $54,555 yearly fire budget for all three departments, Hose Company #1, #4 and #6. An additional $22,000 goes toward hydrant use.
Shick averaged out the cost per firefighter.
Shick
“If you average the cost out – I averaged about 20 men are active in each department – it costs the borough about $5.84 a week per man for guys that get out of bed in the middle of the night, respond to fires and put their lives on the line to preserve the properties and lives of the people,” Shick said.
Hose Company #6 fire crews used nearly $250,000 in grants with assistance from Armstrong County Community Development Division Director Jennifer Bellas during the last decade, not including a $1 million county grant to update radio frequencies.
The fire chiefs asked council members to consider continuing to pay gas and water bills for the station because of their service to the community and financial responsibility.
Shick said council members should not shut down or quit funding one of the departments even in tough economic times because crews are strategically-located throughout town and offer immediate emergency response.
“I understand the need for fiscal responsibility, with the economy the way it is and the borough needing to tighten its belt, but I don’t feel the fire departments are the place to do it,” Shick said.
Both chiefs stated comments were not made to belittle neighboring departments or cause additional hardship, but were made only to clarify earlier questions.
Uncategorized | jweaver March 17, 2011
By MaryJanewho, March 17, 2011 @ 2:05 PM
Since Dr. Shuster claims the borough owns the new #1 Ladder Truck, how come the cost or payment isn’t include in the fire budget. Unless the $800,000 dollar truck was for free. A few months back Councilperson Housley stated that this truck payment will continue till around 2025, and at nearly $5000 per month or $60,000 a year. More than the budget of 3 fire companies. Is there anybody outside of No.1 firehall that believes this duplicate piece of equipment is necessary. I haven’t found one yet. How does this not get include into the fire budget, what are they hiding? How much does it cost to insure, maintain, and certify this truck yearly? That is all above the payment cost. Thanks goodness for Mr. Kline and Schick for bring a professional straight forward presentation regarding their fire hall financial burden or excuse me, non-burden to Kittanning borough Citizens. You would think these guys had a communication degree. I challenge the good Dr. to provide a no-spin, non-rationalizing and justifying explanation of what burden his fire company cost the borough. And don’t exclude the ladder truck that sits in #1 fire company. If that is the case, and you stick to “the borough owns it”, then put it up for vote to sale. Or never leave council for fear of it.
By LouisWinthorpeIII, March 17, 2011 @ 3:25 PM
To MaryJanewho: You seem to have some background knowledge on when it comes to the dealings of the firehalls. Why is it the other citizens of the borough aren’t as informed? Is it because something is being hidden? I would like to review the insurance policy and see if the underwriter deemed all these trucks and firehalls necessary?
Everyone is up in arms about the school district’s gross negligence in the spending of our funds, it’s time we look within our own borough. Just drive the streets. Yet we’re maintaining three firehalls? Are council members being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers? In ten years the population has decreased by 15.5%/almost 800 people. Garbage/water/sewage/taxes continue to rise. Highest in the county??? Probably? Why? Poor spending habits? Let’s see were all the money is going? Any answers? Transparency??? Right to Know Act!
By dirty ratz, March 17, 2011 @ 10:44 PM
Your exactly right Mary Jane! Isn’t Jerry Shister and Cindy Housley members of KFD #1? Sounds like bragging rights of who has the biggest truck.
By forward, March 21, 2011 @ 4:29 PM
I’d say you got it about right dirty ratz and Louis Winthorpe if you’re looking for waste look to the CODES OFFICE first.
By dirty ratz, March 22, 2011 @ 5:18 AM
I hear ya forward. I only see the codes officer riding around with the police chief all day. Surely they can find cheaper help to keep the chief company. For the salary the chief receives he should just do the codes enforcement. That would be a start to cut costs!!