Irving reapplying for Homeland Security grant application

By: Rachel Hawkins, NDG, Staff Writer

During the March 21 Irving City Council meeting, several resolutions were passed aimed at improving the city.

One resolution approved was an agreement to apply for a grant to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the 2018 staffing for adequate fire and emergency response (SAFER) grant. The mayor was designated as the city’s signatory official to execute the grant agreement and any necessary grant documents on behalf of the city.

“I think this kinda shows the length of time it actually takes to get where we’re going,” Rick Stopfer, Mayor of Irving said during the City of Irving’s work board session held a day before. “The chief brought this forward probably six months ago or even longer. It’s going to be a great opportunity for us to do great with staffing.

Victor Conley, Fire Chief of Irving Fire Department, then step to the podium to explain more about the grant for the city.

As stated on the national FEMA website, the purpose of the SAFER grant is:

“to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighters interest organizations to assist in increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industries minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards, and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments.”

Irving has previously received the grant.

“This is the same grant we received last year,” Taylor said during the City of Irving’s work board session. “We’re looking at trying to get the fourth firefighter position at station 11. We’re working in our high valued districts in the north part of town where stations are more farther apart. So we’re working through the grant process, and trying to additional personnel to try to relieve the city of a couple of years of financial reliability for those personal calls.”

This grant will cover 75 percent of the salary for the first two years and 35 percent for the third year for any designated personnel hired. At the end of the three year period, the city assumes all responsibility for the staff member’s salary.