The Lake County News-Sun has an article about a SAFRE Grant awarded tot he Waukegan Fire Department:
[Waukegan] … Aldermen voted 6-2 on Monday to accept $1.54 million to hire up to seven firefighters.
City officials received word in late July that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had designated that amount through the Department of Homeland Security’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program.
The city accepted a $1.2 million SAFER grant in June 2011 that was credited at the time with avoiding at least four layoffs. Koncan reported that the two grants would overlap, with funds from both running out in 2014.
Fire Chief Dan Young told the public safety committee in late July that the new grant would allow the department to recall two firefighters laid off due to budget cuts and add five more personnel.
Attrition during the city’s financial crunch has seen the department’s ranks shrink from 123 in 2010 to 110 this year. Young said he would strive to maintain that number whether or not the city made use of the 2012 SAFER funding.
The complete article can be found HERE.
thanks Dennis
