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The Kearney Fire District will not use a federal staffing grant, but could consider another bond issue or levy increase election in April, the board voted 3-2 Monday, Aug. 31.

The Board of Directors for the Kearney Fire & Rescue Protection District met for a special workshop and meeting Aug. 31 to discuss the Staffing for Adequate Emergency Response grant and failed Aug. 4 bond issue.

Board members feared the fire district would not have enough revenue to support the six additional full-time firefighters that the SAFER grant would employ. The grant would taper off through the years, providing 90 percent of the salary and benefits for six new firefighters the first year and 30 percent by the fourth year.

Todd Gustafson, board chairman, said there’s no such thing as free money.

“There’s strings attached, and with the federal government, it’s ropes — and sometimes there’s anchors attached to slow you down,” he said.

Kim Murphy, board member, made the motion to accept the SAFER grant and explore a levy increase or bond issue in the April 2010 election. Mike Maher, board member, seconded the motion. Murphy and Maher voted in favor of the motion, while Gustafson, along with board members Chastain Parks and Richard Logerwell, voted against it.

“Is the fiscally right thing to do is put the cart before the horse?” Gustafson asked during the discussion prior to the motion.

For more information and comments from the board, pick up the Sept. 10 edition of The Kearney Courier.

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