East Lansing Fire Chief Randall Talifarro says his department could use a new engine, materials and training.
All of which could costs millions.
"Were it not for Michigan State University for an example, we wouldn't have a number of the large buildings that are present here,” Talifarro explained.
“So you have stadiums and auditoriums and laboratories and many other buildings that require heavy equipment. Equipment that is very costly."
A standard set by the state will see that his department receives the money needed to operate through a fire protection grant.
Public Act 289 has issued funds to units that serve state owned buildings, like colleges and universities for four decades but in recent years, communities have been under funded.
Funding for these grants have been a challenge for the legislature because the statute failed to specify a funding mechanism.
“I've seen it at amounts of $500,000 or less,” Talifarro told Cryss Walker.
“The most we've ever received in East Lansing was about $1.7 million. That only happened one time in my 15 years.”
Under the current formula the East Lansing Fire Department is eligible to receive roughly $2 million for the 2019 Fire Protection Grant due to their service to Michigan State University.
“We have to continuously replace a lot of our special and technical units and their equipment so this money will definitely be put to good use,” Talifarro said.
Fire Protection Grants will be handed out in December.
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