Chief wants to reapply for ladder-truck grant

Litherland to fill boots of retiring firefighter

TELL CITY - The chief of the Tell City Fire Department hopes to reapply for a U.S. Homeland Security grant that, if received, would help fund the purchase of a new fire truck.

Greg Linne told members of the city's board of public works and safety last Monday that the department would like to apply for funding under a 2008 grant program.

The department applied for money last spring to purchase a new multi-use truck that would include a 75-foot ladder but was turned down later in the year. The grants are highly competitive.

A new ladder truck could carry a price tag of $500,000 or more but would serve the city well, Linne has told city leaders before.

The department designated its 2007 grant application for a new truck that would come equipped with a 75-foot aerial ladder and would be able to deliver water onto rooftops and allow firemen to reach people trapped in burning buildings with more than one floor. The truck would also serve other functions, including pumping water through its own hoses.

The truck eyed by the city is known as a quint, short for the Latin word quintuple, which means five. A quintuple combination ladder-pumper that carries out five major firefighting functions or features: an aerial ladder, carrying ground ladders, pumping water, transporting water in a tank and carrying fire hoses. A truck of the type the department would like to one day own was in the city Tuesday. Linne said Lantz Fire Equipment of Evansville is trying to sell the truck and has been demonstrating the vehicle in several communities.

If the city is able to obtain funding, the new truck would replace the city's current ladder truck, which has a reach of 55 feet.

Litherland Promoted

Linne obtained works-board approval to promote reserve firefighter Don Litherland to the ranks of active firemen. Litherland will fill the slot of retiring fireman Ed Huff, who has served the city for many years.

Linne said Litherland has logged high attendance rates at fires and training sessions as a reserve.

"Don is a very active reserve and will serve the city well," the chief said.

Three men, Frank Stiles, James Ramsey and Eric Franzman, are being added to the department's reserve roster, Linne told the board. All have their state firefighting certifications.

2008 Appointments

Mayor Barbara Ewing and members of the city council announced several appointments to city boards and commissions. At the council meeting that followed the works board gathering Jan. 7, Gerald Yackle was re-elected council president for 2008.

Councilwoman Dianne Rudolph was reappointed to the board of Perry County Development Corp. with Gary Morton, who took office Jan. 1, serving on the Perry County Recycling Management District Board. Rudolph and Councilman John Little were returned to the Tell City Plan Commission while Mack Cail will fill the remaining term of departing plan-commission member Marlow Smethurst.

Ewing appointed herself to the PCDC board and will also serve on the RMD board of directors. Yackle was reappointed to the Perry County Local Emergency Planning Committee while Tony Hollinden, also taking office in 2008, will serve a term on the city's parks and recreation board.

Ewing reappointed Jim Meek and Linda Mattingly to the Perry County Convention and Visitors Bureau and said she plans to name other members next month. Patti Marcrum and Bea Worsley recently stepped down from that board.

Morton, Ron Crawford and Don Bruner will serve on the Greenwood Cemetery Board while Yackle and Hollinden will serve as council liaisons with the city fire department.

Rudolph and Hollinden were appointed by Ewing to the Tell City Regional Arts Committee while Morton will represent local government on the city beautification committee. Serving on the Windy Creek Committee, Ewing said, will be council members Little and Morton and Tell City resident Dale Poole.

Next Meetings Jan. 22

The city's works board and common council will meet next Jan. 22, a day later than the usual schedule because Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 21 will close city offices.