Fire Station Using CARES Funds to Buy COVID-Related Items
By Emily Chesnic
Northfield Fire is spending CARES Act funds – federal dollars being allocated to communities to cover COVID-19 costs – specifically with the continued safety of the station’s personnel and entire village in mind.
“We are looking to obtain items we did not budget for this year but are needed for our response to the COVID pandemic to protect our employees and citizens,” said Fire Chief Jason Buss.
At the Oct. 14 regular meeting, Buss began discussing how the fire department would like to use its portion of CARES funds, with Council authorizing the station to first purchase a hands-free chest compression device – the LUCAS CPR Machine – from Stryker Medical Equipment at a cost not to exceed $15,000. The device, which was deemed an acceptable COVID-related purchase by the U.S. Treasury, is designed to deliver continuous chest compressions to a patient in acute cardiac arrest, allowing a first responder to transport him or her quickly and safely. Buss said it was critical for each of the station’s three ambulances to be equipped with a hands-free chest compression device. The station already has two chest compression devices that will be moved to the backup squad vehicles, with the newest device to go in the newest village ambulance, he said.
With CARES Act funds, Buss also is seeking to obtain other U.S. Treasury-approved items, including an ambulance vehicle disinfectant machine and a video laryngoscope for the safety of patients and first responders as the pandemic continues. He said the video laryngoscope – used to quickly intubate patients – will help personnel keep a safe distance while treating COVID-19 and other infectious patients.
Additionally, Buss told Council he proposes using CARES funds to replace five sets of turnout gear, which would cost about $10,000. He said this purchase would provide all personnel members with a backup set of gear for at least the next several months.
In light of the pandemic, the chief said he also plans to order new washers and dryers, which are currently needed for laundering dirty uniforms; upgrade all the flush valves and faucets in the station’s bathrooms to hands-free items; and look into technology upgrades that may be possible through CARES funding.
While the remodel of the fire station is on hold for now, the chief said the COVID crisis has highlighted the limitations of the current station.
“We look forward to resetting the timeline. Most likely this project will not resume until early 2021, though,” he said.
In addition, at the meeting, Buss announced he ordered hands-free sanitizer dispensers for all the village buildings and soon would be ordering cleaning supplies to prepare for the winter months ahead.
Buss would like the village to have all the needed COVID-related items inhouse by the end of the year, telling Council he soon would provide them with an itemized list detailing the remaining purchases he would like to make using CARES funding.
Since many safety service departments across the country are looking at “these types of items right now,” Buss said it may take longer than anticipated for some of the supplies to arrive to the village.
Buss reminds residents COVID-19 still “represents a significant concern,” as Summit County has had almost 5,600 confirmed cases and currently is seeing a death rate from the disease of 4.3-percent.
The fire station currently has two part-time firefighters battling COVID-19 infections, with both “doing well at this time,” he reported to Council.
Also, concerning safety services, a Fire and Safety Committee virtual meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss purchasing a new fire engine for the station. Buss said a manufacturer would like to participate in the meeting. The chief would like the village to purchase a replacement engine in early 2021 so it is up and running in the community by late 2021 or early 2022.
Councilwoman Renell Noack said the Fire and Safety Committee meeting also would be used as a time to discuss plans for the new police department. Additionally, she said legislation likely would be presented at the regular Council meeting, which immediately will follow the committee meeting, to approve promoting two current part-time police officers to full-time.
Police Department Report – Chief John Zolgus
Also, regarding the police department, Police Chief John Zolgus, in a provided report, informed Council the village has received the new cruiser, which will be put into service this month, depending on the arrival and installation of equipment.
He also told Council the department’s 800mhz radios have been ordered and should arrive in four to six weeks.
Additionally, Zolgus reported the detective bureau has been busy investigating multiple financial crimes, while the patrol division has been responding to increased calls for service.
Engineer’s Report – Richard S. Wasosky, P.E., P.S.
In his report, submitted to Council, Engineer Richard Wasosky stated the village has about $166,000 available to use for stormwater pollution control projects. He recommends using the money for a replacement storm sewer and catch basin project in the Roosevelt/Monroe Drive area to eliminate flooding. He said the money, available through the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s (NEORSD) Community Cost Share Program, also could be used for sewer jetting, catch basin cleanouts, street sweeping, and for engineering costs incurred for the stormwater pollution prevention program.
Additionally, his report stated the NEORSD has been televising the Beach Avenue and Victory Boulevard sanitary sewers to check their condition and their leakage at the joints and house connections, with the results to be forthcoming.
Wasosky also reported to Council the owner of the Plaza Shopping Center has signed an agreement allowing the village to install a 12-inch wide trench drain across the exit driveway of the center.
Other Meeting News:
• Councilman Gary Vojtush verified the village’s hiring freeze has been lifted.
• Free flu shots, through University Hospitals, for village employees was announced for Oct. 19.