The Inverness City Council will hear details Tuesday about a federal grant application that could fund three new firefighters for the city. Fire Chief Bob Bessler will present the overview at the meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. at Inverness City Hall.
The city applied for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, grant program. The Inverness Fire Department submitted the application during a brief window that closed June 22. No council action is required Tuesday, but members will receive a full overview of the application and its financial requirements.
If awarded, the grant would come with a cost-sharing structure the city must weigh carefully. The city would cover 25 percent of costs during the first two years and 65 percent in the third year. After the grant expires, the council would decide whether to permanently fund the three positions. Accepting the grant would require future council approval because of those local matching requirements.
City officials said the additional staffing would complement recent department investments, including the purchase of a ladder truck. Inverness is actively working to improve its Insurance Services Office fire protection rating, and increased staffing would support that effort by strengthening emergency response capabilities across the city.
Tuesday’s meeting also includes two other significant items. The council is expected to adopt on second and final reading an ordinance reinstating the city’s ban on new medical marijuana dispensaries. Members will also receive a closer look at enhanced law enforcement services for the city. The Inverness City Council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Inverness City Hall.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
