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Hiawatha Seeking Additional Funding for Fire Protection

By Greg Bebermeyer

05/01/2013

( KNZA )-The city of Hiawatha is seeking additional funding from three entities for fire protection.
The city commission Monday evening reviewed a letter that will be sent to Hiawatha Township, Padonia Township and the Sac and Fox Tribe requesting a funding increase to help cover the cost of a new pumper truck for the fire department
The fire department is seeking to replace it’s 1974 truck, which officials say is severely outdated and beyond repair. The cost for a new or late model unit has been placed at around $200,000 to $250,000.
The city plans to replace the truck with proceeds from a USDA Rural Development grant and loan, with the truck to be paid off over a ten year period.
The commission is requesting that Hiawatha Township’s annual funding amount be increased 25-hundred dollars to $10,500; Padonia Township’s amount be increased two-thousand dollars to $5,000; and the Sac and Fox Tribe’s amount one-thousand dollars to $6,000
The commission is seeking a five year contract with the three entities.
Mayor Crosby Gernon says he believes the formation of a fire district would be the best solution. However, a fire district can only be created by either a county or a township under state statute.
The commission is inviting representatives from the three entities to attend the commission’s May 20th meeting.

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