Weatherford city commissioners approved three grants for the Weatherford Fire Department.
The first of those was an emergency management performance grant for $10,000. Commissioners approved accepting the grant by a vote of 5-0.
This grant will be rewarded once the city has submitted the initial application. That application is due August 31, with the final application due by September 30.
The purpose of this agreement is to provide a 50/50 sub-grant with a portion of the funds awarded to the State of Oklahoma under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program. The EMPG program encourages the development of a comprehensive emergency preparedness system for all hazards by the State and local governments, as defined by the FEMA Fiscal Year 2020 EMPG Notice of Funding Opportunity.
The commission approved, 5-0, a memorandum of understanding regarding the 2020 Homeland Security Grant program regional response system and compliance designation of the state as the agent for the local share of grant funding.
This grant is for $673,225, which will go toward of 2020 Grant local funding and assign this funding to the State of Oklahoma, specifically to the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety for the purpose of sustaining and expanding the State of Oklahoma’s Regional Response System in connection with response and recovery from potential catastrophic events, including but not limited to domestic or international acts of terrorism.
Fire Chief Mike Karlin said the city doesn’t see any of this money, it helps support statewide efforts and a few departments in the state do this every year.
Commissioners approved a consideration accepting assistance to a firefighter’s grant and a supplemental budget request in the amount of $27,792.06 for the purchase of equipment.
The grant will be for 30 breathing apparatus for firefighters.
The $27,792.06 will be the city’s portion of the total cost for the 30 apparatus, roughly 10 percent.
“This is something we’re extremely excited about,” Chief Karlin said. “I believe this is our fifth year to apply for this grant. Everyone will have their own masks now.”