Lometa officials hope for FD grant
By CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Special Correspondent

If the hopes of the Lometa Volunteer Fire Department come to fruition, a grant application will result in a much-needed truck for the department.

During last week's regular session of the Lometa City Council, city authorities authorized the fire department to proceed with the grant application.

On hand to present the opportunity for obtaining a federal grant was Jeff Henry of Ferrara Fire Appraisers Inc. "You guys are pretty much the poster children for this grant program," Henry said of the Lometa VFD.

If either of two available grants are awarded to Lometa, $260,000- $270,000 would be available for the purchase of a fully equipped fire truck or equipment, with a 5 percent responsibility for the city to share.

Preliminary budgeting provided by Henry showed the city would have roughly $13,000 maximum responsibility in the truck's purchase. He added that financing is available for that portion of the expense.

"If you are awarded the grant for the truck next year, you won't be looking at anything coming out of your funds until fiscal year 2009," Henry said.

With a March 2008 deadline for application, the council authorized the fire department to pursue the grant.

In other business, the council discussed a proposal from Hamilton County Electric Co-op for installation of a payment cen- ter in Lometa. The proposal hinges on high-speed Internet availability, however. The council agreed to pursue the prospect, contingent upon "availability of DSL services or some other workable agreement with Hamilton Electric."

After interviewing applicants for the position of part-time maintenance person, the council hired Jim Felan at a rate of $6 per hour. Felan will work Monday through Thursday, eight hours per day.

The council had approved the hiring of a previous applicant duronce ing last month's session, however the candidate later declined.

During departmental reports, Mayor Pro Tem David Ivey informed the council that Lometa will receive $6,818 from FEMA for repairs to the city's flood-damaged streets.

"We can at least get back to where some of our streets are driveable," he said.

An emergency matter regarding the fire department's need to replace an air compressor was to be discussed prior to Wednesday's public hearing on the city budget.