Derma board of aldermen approved opening an escrow bank account to help the fire department purchase air packs at the regular meeting of the board last night, that was led by Mayor pro-tem Aretha Herrod in the absence of Mayor Dock Gabbert.
The town has $5,376.44 received from Mississippi Insurance Commission that can only be used for certain items plus $5,325.82 in rebate money from the county.
Fire chief Shane Childs said the department was using air packs that were bought in 2007.
“One new pack costs $8,000,” he said. “So this is the best way for us to save up enough money to buy four. It may take us four years, though.” he said.
In another matter, the board approved for Police Chief Stephen Faddock to submit an application for the police department to the Defense Logistics Agency.
The agency has a program that transfers excess Department of Defense property that might otherwise be destroyed to law enforcement agencies across the country.
“It puts our name in the hat to get weapons and not have to pay for them,” he said.
The board also approved:
•Resolution to apply for CDBG grant to repair the town’s sewer system, advertise for engineer for the CDBG grant, set a public hearing date March 6 at 10 a.m. and to advertise for the grant
•Shane Childs to MS Rural Water Training in Jackson in March
•Three aldermen– Mary Cole, Aretha Herrod and Howard Goodson–to attend a CMO Elective Evening Class in Oxford
•Clerk Deneen James reported a bad debt to the board– Charles Wright.