A $1.1 million dollar federal SAFER Grant that would go toward hiring six new Danville firefighters cleared a city council committee last night. But Mayor Scott Eisenhauer is concerned about some of the wording in the grant application…
Danville Firefighter Ryan Allison wrote the application and says he prepared it with the city’s best interests at heart…
The mayor and some city council members are concerned the application indicates funding would be available to continue supporting the positions when the 3 year grant runs out. Alderman Lloyd Randle called the wording in the grant application ”a serious violation” as he added his vote for it is now in jeopardy.
Brian Hogg, President of Danville Firefighters Local 429, says the application might have had buzz words in it that the mayor does not like and causes him to think there is a liability. But Hogg adds the application contained what was felt would give the best chance of winning the grant.
While the grant would cover the bulk of the cost for six new firefighters, a seventh firefighter would also have to be hired. That is because a firefighter left the department since the grant application was submitted.
The vote to send the proposal to the full city council cleared the committee in a 4 to 2 vote. Aldermen R.J. Davis and Tom Stone voted ‘no’. Alderman Dan Duncheon serves on the committee but left before the vote.
