June 10, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County government and Volunteer Fire Department have been recognized for being able to serve three communities with newer fire trucks through USDA Facility Grant funding.
Jim Tracy, State Director of the USDA Rural Development Program was in Smithville this morning (Monday) for the observance held at the County Fire Department’s Main Station on King Ridge Road.
The county secured grant funding to purchase fire trucks for the Temperance Hall, Cookeville Highway, and for the soon to open Four Seasons Fire Hall.
“I appreciate your service in protecting the citizens of DeKalb County. When you go to sleep at night just know you are helping DeKalb County and that is what we are here on this earth to do is help others. If someone has a fire or other emergency you are there. Rural Development is all about helping rural communities prosper. As a rural community if you are going to retain jobs and bring people in you have to protect the community and fire services with new fire trucks that we were able to help provide with these funds is very important,” said Tracy.
The latest truck was purchased earlier this year for $27,655. The 1996 Ferrara International Model truck had 22,171 miles on it at the time and came from Mississippi. It is stationed at Temperance Hall.
This is the third fire truck the county has been able to purchase through this grant program according to County Mayor Tim Stribling.
The first truck, a 1992 Pierce model with 17,214 miles, was purchased from the City of Smithville last spring for $30,000 and is located at the Cookeville Highway Fire Station.
The second truck, a 1993 E-One International model with 24,291 miles was purchased last fall for $25,000 from a fire department in Connecticut to be located at the new Four Seasons Fire Hall when it is completed.
“A couple of years ago we received two grants from the USDA amounting to $88,800. The local match on the grants was $57,800. The way this works is we (county) have to spend our local match first ($57,800) and any amount above that up to the full grant amount of $88,800 will be reimbursed to the county ($31,000) through the grant program. We have spent $55,000 for the two fire trucks and another $27,655 for the third truck. We will still have left to spend $6,145 to finish out the grant,” said County Mayor Stribling.
(PICTURED ABOVE: Blake Cantrell, Herb Checci, Rachel Checci, and Jay Cantrell, Chris Hampton -Area Director of USDA Rural Development, Jim Tracy-State Director of USDA Rural Development, County Mayor Tim Stribling, County Commissioner Anita Puckett, Michael Lawrence, Steve Repasy, Justin Bass, Justin Coats, Kristie Johnson, Kim Cantrell, Travis Checci, County Commissioner and firefighter Matt Adcock, and County Fire Chief Donny Green.