County relents on firefighter app
Staff writer
After hearing complaints from county fire chiefs who wanted to keep a service that provides information to firefighters, county commissioners did an about-face Monday and agreed to continue paying for Active 911.
A week ago, commissioners voted to stop paying for the service for volunteer firefighters effective July 1. The service costs $11 a year per cell phone and sends texts, maps, and alerts about fires and primarily about controlled burns.
Commissioners first voted to pay for Active 911 in 2018.
County fire chiefs contacted Spencer and commissioners to protest last week’s decision.
“When we did vote to pay that, the departments were having issues,” commissioner Kent Becker said. “I think the intention at that time was that the issues would be resolved. Apparently they haven’t.”
Commission chairman David Mueller moved to reverse last week’s decision to cancel Active 911.
The vote to continue paying for Active 911 was unanimous.
“Firefighters don’t need to be bookkeepers,” commissioner Jonah Gehring said. “They need to fight fires.”
In other business, commissioners:
- Voted to spend up to $1,500 for further consultation with McGrath Human Resources on a county pay plan.
- Authorized the county health department to apply for grants.
- Extended the county’s contract with Eagleview of Belleview, Washington, to provide aerial photography appraisers use to identify new buildings.leview, Washington, to provide aerial photography appraisers use to identify new buildings.