Homeland Security providing New Fire Truck Town awarded $170,000 in funding from federal agency

By Derek Gentile, Berkshire Eagle StaffBerkshire Eagle
Article Launched:12/22/2006 03:02:09 AM EST

Friday, December 22
WEST STOCKBRIDGE — While other communities have to struggle to raise money for a new fire truck, the residents of this town will get one, almost free, courtesy of a program that is part of the Homeland Security Act.


The town was one of several local communities to have been awarded a grant from the federal agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). The $170,000 award will enable the town to purchase a new fire truck, according to Mark Webber, town administrative assistant.
'Very competitive'
Webber, however, lauded Fire Chief Peter Skorput and Lt. Ronald Race for their efforts in writing the grant.



"This is their baby," Webber said. "This is a very competitive grant, with fire departments and ambulance services throughout the country seeking funds. They did a great job."
"They are to be congratulated," agreed Selectmen Chairman R. Michael Kirchner. "I know of communities who hired professional grant writers to apply for the same emergency vehicle. They were denied, and our boys were approved."




A spokesman from the office of U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., noted that "only about 27 percent of the applications that come in are approved for funding."
Funds sought for years
Skorput said the department had been seeking the funds for a few years and that each time it was turned down, the men would write a new grant application.
"We're very pleased," Skorput said. "We've had our fingers crossed for the last couple of years.
"We do this because we're taxpayers, too," he said. "Most of us in the department are family men, and we have homes. So this will be $170,000 the people of West Stockbridge won't have to pay, and that's a good thing for the town."



Skorput said the department has already drawn up the specifications for the new truck, which will be a combination pumper and rescue vehicle. According to the AFG Web site, the community will have to come up with about 5 percent, or about $8,000, to complete the purchase.
"A lot of our calls are medical calls," said Skorput, "so we wanted to get a truck with space for rescue and medical equipment."
Replacement for old truck



The town will replace a 1985 GMC truck, he said.
"It's a good truck, but it needed to be replaced," he said.
The town will have to put the vehicle out to bid.
Skorput said the Selectmen will take that issue up at their meeting next week.
This portion of the Homeland Security Act has set aside a total of $485 million toward grants for fire trucks, equipment and training.
West Stockbridge's award is the largest in Berkshire County this year, according to the HSA Web site.


The town of Florida was notified last month that it will receive a total of $95,000 for a firefighting vehicle. North Adams, Lanesborough and Williamstown also were awarded grant money for training equipment and facility upgrades in the previous fiscal year.
Derek Gentile can be reached at dgentile@berkshireeagle.com or at (413) 528-3660.