[0:02] both sides. If there's a big fire over here, you come. There's one over

[0:08] that way. Oh, yeah. It's It's good. Our biggest I

[0:13] guess our my thought is our biggest reason on wanting to do the other the

[0:17] other quick attack is one more truck that would help get here faster.

[0:20] » Yeah. >> So, that's kind of where we were.

[0:23] » Yeah. Like I said, that's that's the overarching goal is bringing as much

[0:26] force to bear as quickly as possible. That's You add another truck,

[0:32] you probably have to better have two more firemen.

[0:36] » Yeah. >> And it's tough to get volunteer fire.

[0:40] » Yeah. We're >> Yeah. Well, aren't you?

[0:43] » Yeah. >> Everybody is.

[0:45] » Yeah. >> Well, that's why I was just talking to

[0:47] these guys. over in Bird City on well we're working

[0:52] with the McDonald department but we're uh we're going to try knock on wood

[0:57] we're starting a junior firefighting program where basically we're setting

[1:00] it's for 16 to 21 year olds who would be interested in emergency services and all

[1:06] and it's basically just like a two-day camp get them acquainted with what

[1:11] happens equipment science of it things like that and that's part of our

[1:16] recruiting goal is if we can start recruiting in high school, you know,

[1:19] like a freshman, then then they would have more comfort because most of the

[1:24] people that would be interested are are I don't want to say bashful, but

[1:29] they're, you know, they're they they don't they're very confident

[1:33] in in what they would be able to do, you know, and it's just it's just a cultural

[1:37] thing anymore, it seems like. So, so we're trying this junior firefighting

[1:41] program in order to kind of slowly bring him into, hey, it's not that

[1:46] complicated. Hey, it's not that hard. Hey, you can figure it out, you know,

[1:49] and then hopefully in the next well year, two years, three years, you'll

[1:54] start getting some younger replacements. That that's kind of my goal on that is

[1:57] is start getting some of the younger guys, gals, people, and um you know,

[2:05] where they're, you know, I guess more comfortable and more willing to uh to

[2:10] join and you know, because I I would like to increase the department size.

[2:16] So going after this grant, you're saying the grant

[2:20] uh if let me see how do I say this? Uh you would apply for the grant but

[2:30] if the grant you wouldn't be re received till later and the the one you're

[2:35] talking about putting the addition on would be done before they

[2:41] » approved that grant. >> Yeah. because that's two years out

[2:45] » and you're talking the building out maybe

[2:48] » um uh so I got um I'd say hopefully by October is my goal. I'm hoping to have

[2:55] cement laid this summer and even if it's not an insulated building, at least have

[3:00] the building shell up by end the summer is my goal,

[3:05] which I'm I'm pretty confident I have between our our special fund, our

[3:12] building fund, and the Agres's building fund, we have that much capital. So,

[3:20] um, but, uh,

[3:25] yeah. So, how would how would we go about this? Do you have to resend the

[3:30] last? >> No, right now the same grant.

[3:33] » Right now, I think where we're at is Roger has expressed a concern about not

[3:37] even proceeding until there is some sort of guarantee that the addition is going

[3:43] to be built. So, you know, until there is that insurance,

[3:49] Roger's suggesting that there be no action taken until there are some

[3:53] questions that are answered in regards to where this vehicle is going to be

[3:58] stored. If a vehicle is not get being getting rid of

[4:05] or unit or whatever you guys call it,

[4:17] Yeah, I I agree with that. I I really like the idea of you guys getting

[4:21] another attack truck. Is that what you call it?

[4:23] » Yeah. >> But I really do want you to have

[4:26] everything with your addition on and we have till October 1st. Is that

[4:29] corrected? >> I believe that's when the end of the CDB

[4:33] is. Yeah. >> And I'd like a little more communication

[4:35] with St. Francis and make sure everybody's okay with everything. So

[4:40] that's how I feel. I know you think we're

[4:42] » We do have a meeting coming up Tuesday. I don't know if any of them

[4:47] » Yeah, I guess. Yeah, I can I can set a meeting up

[4:49] » if anybody wanted to come over. >> Yeah, because I

[4:55] remember if there's on Wednesdays and ours is on Tuesdays.

[4:58] » Yeah. >> So

[5:01] Wednesday. >> Yeah.

[5:05] Well, did it hurt us to keep >> trying for the grant and I mean you

[5:11] don't have to accept it, right? I think there the best thing is that

[5:16] there's there was already something that was approved. You

[5:19] » were saying is that

[5:24] » yeah okay I didn't

[5:28] need to find >> I mean

[5:33] because you can't have a a fire unit sitting outside

[5:38] » you just clean it. So, first that needs to be answered,

[5:44] » right? >> Oh, that's fine. Yeah.

[5:48] » Yes. >> Well, and if if anything, I mean, you I

[5:52] mean, we we can replace that truck. I mean, it's it's not saying that we can't

[5:56] because it is 20 years old. I mean, it's a what is it? An04?

[6:00] » Yeah. >> Yeah.

[6:02] » It's an 046, >> you know.

[6:05] But you know we were like I said we was just basically just want to increase

[6:08] capability or capacity both. But but if need I mean like I said if if we can

[6:15] » you know we can stick with status quo and just replace replace that truck like

[6:19] the original plan >> replace we can go that route too.

[6:22] » We just we just kind of you know >> it's it's an oldie but a goodie. I mean

[6:27] it's >> you know I mean it's in good shape. It's

[6:30] you know we've replaced the pump. I mean, it's just,

[6:33] you know, I just don't want to, you know, lose money on on a vehicle that's

[6:39] a gym for somebody else. You know what I mean? That's that's that's where this

[6:43] all came from. It was like, well,

[6:48] » be a lemon. So, >> well, that's true. Yeah.

[6:50] » It's in the B talking about what you're saying.

[6:52] » You know what I mean? It's like you kind of know what you had, you know, but but

[6:56] then also it's you hate to go rolling out the door with a 25y old truck

[7:01] thinking, you know, you're going to a fire and

[7:04] it's a 25 year old truck. You know what I mean? It's so, you know, it's

[7:09] two-edged sword. I mean, it's just like farming, you know?

[7:15] But, uh, but yeah, so like I said, we can we can we can we can proceed any way

[7:19] you guys would like. Um, you know, I don't want to feel like we're, you know,

[7:27] trying to be pulling over anything. We're just throwing out options.

[7:31] » We feel that way. >> Well, and basically that's want

[7:35] everybody. >> That's kind of why we wanted to come to

[7:37] you guys and say, "This is kind of what we're thinking. We wanted you guys'

[7:40] input on it." >> Yeah.

[7:41] » Like the building. Yeah. I agree 100%. We definitely don't want a truck sitting

[7:44] outside. >> Yeah.

[7:46] » So, that was something why we were hurrying up trying to get to that point.

[7:49] So, we had an answer for you on that. >> So,

[7:53] » yeah, I just haven't uh Yeah, like I said, I got

[7:57] » So, well, I called Brock. He's getting a building quote for me. Um, and then like

[8:01] I said, I've got a couple others, but uh but like I said, we have we have several

[8:06] options and I'm sure we can, like I said, it it might u like I said,

[8:14] basically, it's like I said, there's two building sites.

[8:17] have enough room there. Um, just depending on which way you want to go,

[8:20] like I said. And but yeah, I can get I can get a

[8:26] finalized approval for you if you'd like.

[8:34] » And I'm still a little concerned of adding a truck

[8:40] just for insurance and liability. And

[8:45] I want to I want to keep everybody safe and have the good equipment. Don't give

[8:49] » Sure. Yeah. And >> but it's we're here to watch tax

[8:54] dollars, too. >> Yeah.

[8:55] » Oh, that's true. >> Yeah.

[8:58] » Yeah. And we can we can go the route too of just replacing like the you know,

[9:03] originally just replacing that truck and selling it too. I mean, it's kind of

[9:07] whatever way you guys want us to go on it.

[9:12] I feel that we just come over trying to get communication with you guys because

[9:15] really we had in the past I do appreciate that.

[9:18] » I mean that's our biggest deal is we want to communicate with you guys to

[9:20] where you kind of know where we're thinking and whatnot. So

[9:24] » yeah cuz oh I'm not sure what uh which uh grant

[9:30] or what I'm not sure where they're going with the SCBA what if it's through the

[9:34] CDBG or if it's a different grant body or or how they're proceeding with that.

[9:38] I mean it's It's uh but if anything I mean it's

[9:43] because originally the $500,000 grant was the county would be responsible for

[9:47] 100,000. So so really I mean as far as the obligation

[9:53] the obligations a third of rough numbers but yeah

[9:58] roughly

[10:03] but but uh so but yeah I'm not a big fan of wasting

[10:08] money either. Don't don't uh don't get me wrong there.

[10:17] » Times are critical right now. I mean, look at Nebraska.

[10:20] » That is true. >> The quick responses and

[10:23] » I'm sorry, speaking as a private private citizen living out where we do,

[10:28] » you know, the people up in the brakes or anyone that lives in the county, you

[10:32] want them you guys there as quickly as possible.

[10:36] No, that's Yes. That's how fast we respond, you're always going to feel

[10:40] like it took way too long no matter what.

[10:42] » And and there is there is more, >> I'd say, coordination, but like like

[10:47] when um they had that fire by Hearnden, um just just to kind of explain how that

[10:51] kind of works. So So McDonald basically sent all their equipment to H. Hearnden

[10:55] on that one fire, that really windy day, that fire. So basically at that point,

[11:00] our district expanded to include McDonald's district. So, so depending on

[11:06] which no, >> there's very few fires that are on nice

[11:09] days. It's usually those really really bad things. But so so like I said so

[11:14] expectations of departments like I said are changing as far as um

[11:19] you know like like I said we're we could easily double our district size for a

[11:23] day or four depending on the weather depending on who sends trucks where and

[11:29] it it is I mean and you can get discs and stuff around but there was a lot

[11:34] more discs and a lot more of that around in the 80s anymore.

[11:40] We were literally had guys pulling stuff out of machinery rows and you know like

[11:45] well yeah I think it's still there

[11:50] but yeah we'll we'll um I will uh see if I can get the building uh approval and

[11:56] we can proceed from there if you guys would like good with that.

[12:00] Not a problem. >> Yeah, it's good. Like I said, it's

[12:06] just uh just trying to keep everybody in the loop.

[12:12] » So, on another note, our tender truck is back in service. Um we got the tank put

[12:17] on it. Uh got the tank on a Thursday. We had the tank on it Sunday, ready to go,

[12:23] put water in it, and they manufacturing defect

[12:26] » leaked more than the old one. >> It leaked more than the old one. So, we

[12:29] had to take it over to Atwood to get it fixed. They put a different tank on it.

[12:32] So now it's back together. Good to go. >> A week.

[12:36] » Yeah. Yeah. >> They sent a package.

[12:38] » They Well, it took him a week. We took it over on a Monday and I picked it up

[12:42] Friday evening. >> Yeah.

[12:44] » We we spent three days on it or four. >> Yeah. Yeah.

[12:48] » And then Yeah. Yeah, we took it over on Monday and they had to order the tank

[12:51] out of Scotsluff, but apparently there were several of them that they had

[12:55] ordered that when they put the bung in they the jig was off and so they drilled

[12:59] a hole and then moved the bung over and then so there was like a hole that was

[13:03] half covered with the gasket that was leaking it.

[13:07] So nothing's ever [laughter]

[13:12] at least a different tank and we're up and going on that. So, so

[13:16] » it cost you guys time. They did it, >> right?

[13:20] » Well, the first one we put on cost this time.

[13:22] » Yeah. >> I know you guys installed the first one,

[13:25] but they installed second. >> Yeah.

[13:28] » Yeah. So, >> the easy part.

[13:30] » And the plumbing, all that. >> But yeah, so that's so that's back

[13:35] operational. So, we're back to full force.

[13:39] Have you guys got the new new truck? >> Um, so that truck has been kind of being

[13:45] pushed back with the weather and stuff that they've had out in Washington.

[13:47] Okay. >> So, um, I talked to the guy this

[13:50] morning. It was supposed to be put on the truck Friday and then it was

[13:53] Saturday and then so now it was supposed to be loaded today. It's he's not very

[13:58] happy with the situation. So, the weather's been killing him.

[14:02] » Yeah. >> So, it's the issue.

[14:04] » But, >> so it should be in this week

[14:06] » and I think he gave you all the paperwork. Yep. I have a tracking for

[14:09] the the documents and stuff. So, I'll let you know when that be.

[14:12] » Perfect. >> You check on that stuff and we'll get

[14:16] that together. >> Perfect. Sounds good, guys. Thanks.

[14:18] » Thank you, gentlemen. >> Thanks.

[14:19] » You have yourself a good Monday. >> Stay safe.

[14:25] » You too, guys. Thank you.

[14:29] Okay.

[14:35] » Five minutes of executive for advice of council.

[14:41] » What? Five minute session for advice of council.

[14:44] » Second. >> Been moved and seconded for five minutes

[14:46] of executive session for advice of council. All in favor signify by saying

[14:49] I. I. I. All oppose.

[20:58] Oh, no. We're call the meeting back to order new decisions from any executive

[21:00] session.

[21:08] » Motion to adjourn. >> Second. It's

[21:12] » been moved and seconded to adjurnn. All in favor signify by saying I.

[21:15] » I

Cheyenne County Commissioners March 16, 2026 -2 Meeting Recording 1

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