Huntsville Fire Chief Tom Grisham is confident 2006 will end on a positive note for his department, as City Council will decide Tuesday during its regular meeting if a new tanker truck is worth the more than $200,000 it will take to build.

A new truck would replace the 1985 Mack Tanker totaled in a November collision.

“This one will be different than the one we lost,” Grisham said. “It will be bigger, but will be short enough to maneuver through apartment complexes and make tight corners.

“I think it’s a good investment because it fits our community and is an upgrade of safety and what we can do.”

If the purchase is given the thumbs up, Grisham said it will take up to six months to drive the tanker home. After securing bids from at least 10 different vendors, Grisham said the actual truck will be built to specifics of HFD.

For instance, the new truck will carry 500 gallons and have an adequate pump. Firefighters can also draft water from open lakes with the new equipment if need be.

“We now have the potential to have 2,500 gallons on scene (with other trucks already in service),” Grisham said. “Our hope is by the time we need more water, the volunteer departments can get there if we need them. I think one thing people don’t always realize is how vital our volunteers are.”

The $226,000 tanker will be funded with $193,000 from the fire equipment fund and $33,000 from insurance proceeds on the wrecked truck.

Also on Tuesday, the department will ask for council’s approval to donate 10 self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to the FM 356 Volunteer Fire Department in Trinity County.

In 2004, HFD received a grant for $120,000 for the purchase of new SCBA in order to standardize equipment for Huntsville firefighters. The used models were taken out of service in the same year.

“We wanted to standardize the fleet,” Grisham said. “We all had the same brand, but all different year models. The controls weren’t in the same place for everybody, so doing so improved safety for the firefighters.

“I would like to donate the old ones because I will do everything I can to help a smaller department. We were very fortunate to get the grant in the first place, and we had budgeted the match already.”

Council will also consider funding $40,000 to continue the Huntsville’s Promise program Tuesday’s after a presentation by board president Dr. David Prier.

The program was not budgeted into the 2007-08 city budget, but as executive director Scott Atnip explained, the need for it is obvious.

“We’re actually asking for the same amount we did four years ago,” Atnip said. “We really want to get back to spending our time working with nonprofits and other youth organizations in town. We’ve updated the developmental assets for the community, and 2006 was the best year ever for the Huntsville Youth Council.”

The $40,000 request would only partially fund Huntsville’s Promise, whose internal programs, such as Impact Huntsville, generate financial support.

“We’ve redefined ourselves with the three goals we’ve set forth,” Atnip said. “We are looking for other funding options.”

The entire expenditures for Huntsville’s Promise is more than $80,000, but Atnip said with the help from the city, the program can continue to grow strong. Atnip will remain the only HP employee with direction from the program’s board of directors.

Also on the council agenda:

• Authorize acceptance of the bid for a new roof at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center from A-1 Roofing and maintenance in the amount of $32,768.

• Authorize acceptance of the bid from Clearwater Chemicals for pricing on miscellaneous swimming pool chemicals, to be purchased from budgeted funds.

• A Huntsville Horizons Comprehensive Plan Committee report will be given by Councilman Mickey Evans.

• Council will discuss response to a citizen complaint regarding the Open Meetings Act compliance by the city.



The City Council will meet for its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall. A work session will take place at 5 p.m. in the conference room to discuss the Rita B. Huff Humane Society Feasibility Study and Grants for Owner Occupied Housing, which is also a statutory agenda item.

A full agenda can be accessed at www.huntsvilletx.gov or at City Hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.