Bessemer Township seeks grant for fire truck
RAMSAY — Bessemer Township is seeking a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to purchase a new fire truck. The township board authorized the fire department during its regular meeting on Monday to work on writing the grant. “We’re looking at a tanker truck,” said township supervisor Jeff Randall. “We do have one truck that is starting to get quite old and the tank is starting to rust out. So we need to replace that fairly soon.” Randall said the fire department would also like to put a pump on the truck, so it would be a combination pump and tanker truck. Randall estimated the truck may cost $250,000. If approved for the FEMA grant, the township would be expected to pay a 5% local match, he said. The grant must be submitted by Feb. 12. “I’m hoping we hear something between February and May as to whether or not we got the grant,” Randall said. “Then we got a couple years to get the truck purchased, built, and receive it.” The board also approved the purchase of a couple snowmobile crossing signs. The signs are to be placed on U.S. 2, just west of Ramsay Road.