PRESS RELEASE

 For immediate release and publication – November 15, 2004
 

Cloverdale Council Addresses Public Safety Issues

  The Cloverdale Town Council has begun to address several public safety issues to benefit the community.  A Homeland Security study was initiated in the summer of 2004 and has recently been presented to the Council for its review and implementation.  The study reviewed the needs and/or assurances of the Town’s police, utility, water, fire, and emergency systems.  Such a study allows the Town’s leadership to formulate and act on steps to assure the safety of the community in any emergency situation.  The Council will encourage community involvement in Emergency Public Safety Volunteer Response Teams once the study is officially accepted.

  Another step voted on by the Council was the check of its water hydrant system.  The past several weeks the Town hydrants have been flushed and flow monitored.  Such a check verifies the reliability of the hydrant and the water pressure each produces on the line.  The initial report notes the strengths and/or any shortfalls.  Shortfalls would include a hydrant that is in need of repair as well as recommendations for additional hydrants on the line.  In association with this action, the Town has mapped its hydrant system, repainted the bases, and will color-code the tops to note the type of flow capability the hydrant supports. New hydrants and line upgrades that may be needed will be addressed in the near future.

  In September, the Town moved away from the contraction of fire prevention with the Township Volunteer Department to return to the original format the Town once followed for fire service.  The financial shortfall in the general fund for 2005 created challenges for the Council to be able to accept the offered $71,400 contract with the Township Volunteer Fire Department.  The return to the original format means the Town will initiate plans that begin with a volunteer fire program and evolve into a partial paid or full paid department over time.  Such a plan would allow for on site fire services to the Town to be twenty-four hours, seven days a week.  Along with this plan, the Council hopes to secure an ambulance service to be based in Cloverdale.  Having an ambulance in Town allows for responses to emergency health issues being covered by paramedics of the ambulance service around the clock.

  At the November meeting of the Cloverdale Town Council, action by the Board allowed for a bond ordinance to proceed to address public safety issues.  An amount of $150,000 was acted on by the Council to be utilized for fire and policing needs, as well as other issues of public safety. This money will help presently to secure equipment needed for the fire department.  The interest rates on bonds are low and payments will be spread out over ten years.  The Council’s action through Ordinances on this issue allows for these moderate payments to be paid through CEDIT funds (economic development income tax) presently in place. This will help to relieve the burden of the Town’s general fund as the sole source for funding fire prevention.  Fire equipment and trucks are the first needs noted to be purchased through these funds.  The Council has chosen to secure certified trucks to begin the Towns’ fire program but then will evolve into the purchase of new trucks over time. The Town of Cloverdale would not be unlike other communities throughout the state – large and small – who utilize certified older fire trucks in their fire departments.

  The Cloverdale Town Council’s vote to return fire protection to a Town volunteer department addresses residential insurance needs. Returning to the Town’s volunteer department will not increase insurance rates for the community.  The ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating of six, presently held will be secured by the Town and will be enabled by the equipment and planning of the Town’s volunteer fire department.

  Further reports on the progress of the Town’s fire department and other public safety issues will be published as they occur. 

  Minutes of Cloverdale Town Council meetings as well as press releases are available online by visiting cloverdale.in.us