Kingsland VFD Buys New Turnouts

KINGSLAND - The Kingsland City Council approved the Kingsland Volunteer Fire Department’s purchase of eight sets of new turnouts for a cost of about $26,332 during its regular monthly meeting last Thursday, Jan. 22, at Kingsland City Hall.Representatives from the fire department reported that many of the turnouts used by the volunteer firefighters were old and no longer provided the protection needed to fight a fire. Turnouts are protective coats and pants made of durable fire-retardant material. Each turnout set bought by Kingsland included the jackets and pants but no other equipment.Kingsland business manager Wendy James pointed out that the fire department had enough funds to pay for the turnouts without city assistance.On the subject of the fire department, Fire Chief Tevin Russell said the department received no responses on the old fire truck it had put out for bids. The department was looking to sell the old truck to help raise money to buy a newer model used pumper truck.Russell told the city council that it would cost about $10,000 to $12,000 to make the old truck suitable for sale while the department could possibly buy a newer model truck for about $20,000. While there was discussion about possibly selling it for scrap metal, no official decision was reached on what to do with the old truck.It was also reported during the city council meeting that the fire department recently received a $1,000 donation from a local member.Grant Close-OutJames also announced during the meeting that the City of Kingsland will be holding a public ZOOM meeting at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, to close out a $500,000 wastewater grant. She said notices about the meeting will be posted around town.Kingsland was awarded the Community Development Block through the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program in May 2024. It was used to make improvements to the pump station and repair pipes.To at...