A Hennessey volunteer firefighter said he was asked by a friend: “Why does Hennessey need a ladder fire truck?”

His response: “Because we’ve got firefighters standing on roofs that could collapse any minute so they can put out the fire before it spreads.”

“We sure could have used it at the (Blackburn) fire on Mitchell Road,” said another firefighter.

Those off-camera comments came after Assistant Fire Chief James Matousek updated Hennessey Board of Trustees on the expansion of the fire station to house a ladder truck.

The need isn’t all about two-story and higher structures, said Matousek.

“It’s about the size, the square footage of structures and the ladder truck is how to keep our ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating at 3,” he added.

His report was near the end of the board’s Thursday, March 9, meeting that lasted more than three hours.

Low ISO Rating

The lower the rating the better the fire protection of a town/city and that means lower property insurance costs.

“This is a courtesy update,” said Matousek. “You’ve probably read all about it in the Kingfisher paper.”

Work will not start until May and could take up to a year to complete. The late start is because firefighters want to have their annual open house next month.

Mainly Matousek, but Fire Chief Bert Gritz and Capts. Brandon Scott and Jake Streck have also attended county commissioner meetings this year.

The plans were ready in January and the two chiefs asked the county to go out for bids on the expansion.

The county had to get the bids because the work will be paid for through the Hennessey Fire Department’s county sales tax fund.

Ladder Truck Cost

Matousek told the town board the truck would cost about $1 million and it was understood that if the fire department used its county money for the expansion, the town would get the truck.

“It’s about three-and-ahalf years out to get a truck (the supplier said) if we ordered it now,” Scott said from the audience.

Matousek said there were several bids and they accepted the $1.9 million bid from Henson Construction, Enid.

That bid was $1.862 million and HFD also opted for an alternate bid for a new metal wall pane that added another $42,000.

Firefighters have saved up their county money for many years and Matousek said the department’s monthly tax money will be down for awhile due to the county using some fire department funds to pay for the new county jail.

Money Help From County

“We got a bonus from the county,” Matousek said. “They shared $392,000 in ARPA money (federal COVID fund) with us and we’re really thankful.”

He said the fire department now has $371,000 left in its county sales tax fund, “and we’re probably going to need it to replace a brush pumper.”

FD Expansion Questions

Matousek also fielded a few questions. He said: the roofs will match, the brick in front will be reset and the new structure will stop north of the east/west drive at the library.

When asked later why the structure before the truck, Matousek said Kingfi sher made that mistake and had to keep their truck at the airport hangar because that was the only place big enough.

Matousek also thanked these firefighters at the meeting for their help with the expansion: Gritz, Scott and Randy Bohnstedt, who is also an EMT, and a candidate for the town board.

Swimming Pool

Admission and party costs will stay the same as last year, the board decided.

They also plan to add more dates for parties if lifeguards are available. Party bookings start at 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 3, said Town Treasurer Shelley Burch.

Watkins Recognized

At the start of the meeting the board recognized Troy Watkins, who has worked 30 years for the town. Watkins, who continues to work in the street department, was given a round of applause.

Library Leak

Gritz was told that the lack of gutters on the back of the library is causing leaks and mold. He said they’d take care of it.

Other Actions

• Approved creation of an ordinance making it mandatory to “install backflow preventers in all new - and on existing sewer lines.” Sewer Supt. Bryan Burch said, “There was a sewer backup on new builds.”

• Hired Ruby Rodriguez as children’s librarian. ( Ed. note: See additional story in next edition.)

• Approved construction of a waterline on Dunlap Street as part of a REAP grant and after approval by DEQ.

• Approved a $15,500 quote from Grade Work Construction to sandblast the “old RO system” at the Water Plant; replace all rusted braces and bracket hangers, reinstall all damaged strap, supply all steel needed for brackets and skid runners, re-paint with paint supplied by town, replace any damaged or worn pipes and valves with town supplying valves and pipes.

• Denied a request to install water meters at Mendoza Trailer Park south of town by the Water Plant.

Interim Town Administrator David Treanor’s Report

Employees – Dylan Atherton hired as permanent full-time Feb. 21 to replace Pat Vaverka and Kolton Shaw full-time summer help, April 3-July 28. Tony Hickey new duties are code enforcement and animal control. Roni Decker transferred from HPD dispatch to accounts payable at Town Hall. Compensation for resigned administrator Tiffany Tillman and Town Clerk Kati Walters have been working at Town Hall.

Building Permits issued thru Feb. – 604 E. 5th St., storage shed; 217 W. Iowa, fence; 322 W. Kansas and 319 W. Kansas, mobile homes (approved); 108 N. Main, canopy; 301 E. 3rd St., cutting curb for driveway; 318 E. Oklahoma Ave., gas permit; 322 N. Cherokee, electrical permit; 1161 S. Main, electrical permit; 600 W. 7th St., mobile home (denied, no further action by applicant yet).

New Water Plant Reverse Osmosis Replacement – 95% complete. Up and running, a few places still need attention.

Swimming Pool – Will start filling the pool next month, lifeguard hiring process has started.

Attorney – Working on RV/sewer dump ordinance, food truck ordinance and severance package for Brent Bruner.