YOU CAN’T SAY THAT FRANKTON, INDIANA, FIRE CHIEF ROB AMICK isn’t dedicated. Frankton’s volunteer fire department is on the financial ropes and Chief Amick has taken out a $50,000 personal loan to keep the department afloat while he works to convice the town council to increase the funding for the 23-member department.
Herald Bulletin / Don Knight photo
Last Wednesday he held a public meeting in the firehouse that spilled out onto the front ramp of the fire station where he explained to the citizens that the current annual budget of $63,000 isn’t enough to run the department. Not only are there the operating expenses, but their 45-yr.-old tanker needs replacing and come January 1st all of their SCBA’s will be non-compliant with mandatory standards. They will need another $120,000 just to replace those.
WRTV Ch. 6 Indianapolis has this video interview with Chief Amick:
The VFD is doing an exemplary job of maintaining public awareness of their needs and why they require the additional funding. And yet, in spite of all that there is a clueless town councilwoman who thinks they get enough money now because there are very few fires. The Town contributes $22,000 toward the budget.
The Anderson Herald Bulletin has a good article about last Wednesday’s public meeting HERE. It should be required reading for all VFD officers looking for some ideas on maintaing good public relations.
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