By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Thinking Marion firefighters don’t get enough appreciation for the job they do, a city council member and her husband supplied a meal for firefighters to enjoy during their monthly meeting Thursday.

Ruth and Ron Herbel brought Subway sandwiches, chips, cupcakes, and bottled water for the department’s 20 members.

Some firefighters donned new grass-fire gear for the meeting. Bunker gear for fighting grass fires is more lightweight than standard bunker gear.

Fire chief Chris Killough said most of the cost of the grass-fire bunker suits was paid from memorial funds in honor of Thad Meierhoff.

He thanked Janie and Chris Meierhoff as well as Christian Peterson for designating the fire department for memorials.

The rest of the money came from donations at the department’s annual chili feed and from serving hamburgers at Art in the Park.

Firefighter Matt Marsden told his fellow firefighters he would submit an application for a Firehouse Subs grant to buy new bunker gear within days.

Killough told crew members Herbel has asked city officials to increase the rate firefighters are paid from $15 a call to $25 a call.