Polk Township Fire secures $50,000 Public Safety Grant after completing required training

Polk Township Fire Chief Ray Platz appeared before the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday to request the $50,000 Public Safety Grant offered by the county, capping an effort to bring his department into compliance with the grant's training requirements.

Chief Platz thanked the commissioners for granting the department a "second chance" to qualify for the funding. The opportunity came after it was determined that no members of Polk Township Fire had attended any of the Emergency Management training opportunities offered through the county, although personnel had participated in training sessions hosted by other fire departments in the county.

Several months ago, when Polk Fire first made its request, commissioners pointed to a pair of upcoming training opportunities and told the department that attendance would make it eligible for the grant funds. On Monday, Chief Platz confirmed that members had since completed the required training and were formally seeking the $50,000 award.

He told the commissioners the funds would allow the department to continue replacing its radios and a compressor system that supplies fresh air into the breathing-air tanks firefighters rely on when battling structure fires.

Commissioner Jesse Bohannon said the request was in line with the spirit of the grant and moved to reimburse Polk Township Fire by the end of the year for purchases of up to $50,000. The motion was approved.

The Public Safety Grant is administered by Marshall County to support local emergency response agencies in maintaining and upgrading critical equipment.