LaPaz-North Township Fire Territory granted Public Safety Grant from county commissioners

Friday, September 5, 2025 at 3:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

The North Township Trustee Emily Haskins and the LaPaz North Township Fire Department Chief Mathew Haskins appeared before the Marshall County Commissioners this week seeking a Public Safety Grant from the county.

The fire chief said they have purchased twenty self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) because their current ones were sixteen to twenty years old, at the end of their life, and would not pass the safety tests. He said the air bottles they had were fifteen years old.

Chief Haskins told the commissioners that they tested three different brands and ultimately selected the cheapest one because it met their needs. He said they were more adjustable, more comfortable to wear, and caused less fatigue to the firefighters. Haskins said they also purchased new air bottles that have 45 minutes of air in them instead of 30 minutes like their old ones, and the maintenance cost will be less.

The total cost of their purchase was $127,500, and their reimbursement from the Public Safety Grant was approved at $50,000.

Commissioner Jesse Bohannon said, “This 100% lines up with what we were attempting to do. Obviously, the request was made from us a little over a year ago to look at creating a Public Safety Tax, and our option was to try and find a way to help you guys out without raising taxes.”

The commissioners unanimously approved their grant request.