Fire District Board approves 2015 budget

By DAVID KRIER

The Boscobel & Rural Fire District Board held their Annual Meeting Oct. 1 and approved a 2015 budget of $177,000—the same as the 2014 budget. The annual budget was $174,000 in both 2012 and 2013.

Major items in the 2015 budget include $50,000 for the truck fund, $33,500 for payroll, $17,000 for building and grounds, $15,000 for new equipment, and $14,000 for insurance.

Fire Chief Todd Fischer reported that there were 49 fire calls through Sept. 30, including mutual aid calls to Prairie du Chien for the Slumberland fire and Platteville and Fennimore for tornado relief.

“That’s quite a few calls isn’t it? Aren’t we more like 40 for the year or something?” asked board member Arlie Harris.

“No, we’re usually around 55 or 65 for the normal average for us,” Fischer replied. “Of course last year we were like 70-something, but we counted five days during the flooding as call days. We were roughly in the upper 60s without the flood.”

Fischer said the department’s roster was now full with the addition of three new firemen: Tim Bray, Andrew Sobczak and Leslie Dilley Jr.

Fire training classes begin this month at Southwest Tech and Fischer said a good number of firemen have expressed interest in furthering their training. He added that fire prevention programs and drills are upcoming this month at the schools.

In other news, Fischer reported that:

• Annual hose testing would begin Monday;

• All pump tests and ladder tests had been completed;

• Trick or Treating would once again be held at the firehouse this Halloween;

• A Thermal Imaging Camera has been purchases and is now in use, and:

• New ceiling fans have been installed in truck bays.

In his goals for 2015, Fischer said a Truck Committee has been assembled and it will meet soon to lay out plans for replacement of a fire truck. He would also like to re-paint the truck bays, install a new compressor, and possibly paint the floor of the truck bays.

Public safety

Public safety