Ann Arbor Fire Department lands $88K federal grant
The Ann Arbor Fire Department has been awarded an $87,876 federal grant to improve operations and safety, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced this week.
In addition to the grant for Ann Arbor, two other grants were announced under the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters grant program, including $17,575 for the New Hudson Public Safety Department and $43,650 for the Auburn Hills Fire Department.
"Every day, our first responders stand ready to protect lives and property. This grant will help provide the Ann Arbor, New Hudson, and Auburn Hills fire departments with the support they need to protect their communities," Levin, D-Mich., said in a statement Thursday.
The Ann Arbor Fire Department has been awarded an $87,876 federal grant to improve operations and safety, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin said on Thursday.
Joseph Tobianski I AnnArbor.com
The competitive grants are intended to help fund professional training programs, update equipment and facilities, and provide new supplies to help first responders handle hazards effectively.
More information about the program can be found at http://www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program.
Ann Arbor Fire Chief Chuck Hubbard and City Administrator Steve Powers could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday.
Powers presented his recommended budget to the City Council this week. Fire department expenditures account for $14.5 million of the $82.9 million general fund budget, while police department expenditures total $24.5 million — equating to 47 percent of the budget going to public safety, and another $4.4 million going toward the 15th District Court.
The administrator's budget, which awaits City Council approval, maintains 144 full-time employees in the police department and 86 full-time employees in the fire department.
The Ann Arbor Fire Department provides a broad range of services to the community, including fire suppression, vehicle accident extrication, medical assistance, water and ice rescue, fire safety inspections, investigation of fires, and oversight of fire-related permits. It also plays a large part in Washtenaw County Hazardous Material and Technical Rescue teams.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Tom
Sun, Apr 21, 2013 : 12:54 a.m.
Never turn down free money. Would you expect Ann Arbor to be fiscally responsible for their own town? No wonder the country is inthe shape we are in.
Linda Peck
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 8:04 p.m.
I hope we will see this money come to the AAFD and be well used.
Craig Lounsbury
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 4:23 p.m.
we should adequately fund our fire department locally and not look for handouts from the federal government. The federal government is out of control with run away debt.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sun, Apr 21, 2013 : 10:25 p.m.
Yes, the debt has increased every year because there has been a deficit every year. So what? Go back and find the numerous articles in mainstream sources and in academic journals that were written in the halcyon days of the late 1990s when it appeared our debt might disappear in 10-15 years. You will find dire predictions for the impact on the economy due to its impact on the bond market. Of course, this is not news to the well informed. Both Adam Smith and Alexander Hamilton fully understood the value of a government maintaining a permanent debt. So, again, your apples example is simplistic beyond any value when dealing with macroeconomic issues. GN&GL
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Apr 21, 2013 : 8:43 p.m.
ERMG, In other words you are conceding I am right. I could insert actual numbers in billions instead of apples to make the same point. My numbers would be correct. We are still running a deficit and the debt still goes up. Those are facts. Macroeconomics has little to do with the simple FACT that we are operating at a deficit and the debt is going up. Do you deny that?
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sun, Apr 21, 2013 : 6:36 p.m.
GoNavy: 1) Your numbers are wrong. Go to the following for hte correct #s: http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt.htm 2) Obama haters love pinning the FY 2009 deficit on Obama. Problem is that FY 2009 began 6 weeks before he was elected and more than 3 months before he became president. It was his Constitutional obligation to execute the budget that had been enacted by Congress and signed into law by the president in 2008. Obama's first budget was FY 2010, and its deficit was less than that of FY 2009, and they have gone down every year since. Every. Year. @Craig: If you think a macroeconomic budget can be boiled down to how many apples one has, you clearly do not understand the issues. GN&GL
Craig Lounsbury
Sun, Apr 21, 2013 : 2:28 p.m.
ERMG, whether the rate of deficit goes down or up hardly matters. Its still a deficit which is to say we still spend more than we take in and the debt continues to go up. If I take in 10 apple a week and spend 14 apples a week year after year then reduce my spending to 12 apples i didn't solve my problem. I may have reduced the bleeding but the bleeding didn't stop. And for the record I am an independent voter. i voted for Obama the first time then declined to vote for either candidate the second time casting a write in "none of the above" for president. my point is, I don't drink the kool-aid of either party.
GoNavy
Sun, Apr 21, 2013 : 12:08 p.m.
@Edward R Murrow's Ghost What claptrap. We'll let readers decide what it meant for "deficits to decrease every year", by examining what they were each year: FY 2007: $161 billion FY 2008: $458 billion FY 2009: $1,413 billion FY 2010: $1,294 billion FY 2011: $1,300 billion FY 2012: $1,087 billion FY 2013*: $973 billion Not quite "every year." And that doesn't look pretty to me.
Sparty
Sun, Apr 21, 2013 : 4:24 a.m.
Yes, the deficit has declined every year under Obama, unemployment is below where it was when he took office when 800,000 jobs a month were being lost, the Dow had crashed and lost half of its value, the auto industry was saved and is now profitable, the Iraq War was ended and the Afghan War will end next year, and ObamaCare will finally go into effect in January.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sun, Apr 21, 2013 : 12:09 a.m.
Fact: The deficit has gone down every year that Obama has been in office. Every year. So much for "runaway deficits". You're flashing back to the Bush II years. GN&GL
Craig Lounsbury
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 11:24 p.m.
ya as long as its coupled with responsibility in Government at all levels. Are you OK with a run away federal deficit with no desire from either party to stop it? I'm not blaming Obama its been going on relentlessly since Ronald Reagan. Ann Arbor is a bit better than the national average as far as our fiscal situation yet we spend money on art and train station studies while a worse than broke federal government sends us money for core government services. I'm 61 years old, my first grandson is 2 1/2 . This path has to stop someday. Now may I ask you how much of a federal debt are you OK with? Or if not actual debt what percent of debt to GDP are you OK with?
A2M3
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 8:26 p.m.
@Craig, that means increasing our taxes, you ok w/that?
An Arborigine
Sat, Apr 20, 2013 : 4:19 p.m.
I hope the responsible AA officials take the steps necessary to actually secure these funds this time!
Carole
Sun, Apr 21, 2013 : 12:33 p.m.
Yes indeed - we need the best for those who serve us both firefighters and police.