Councilman Don Johnson said he didn't object to the representatives, but noted in such cases they might be required to "made a decision pretty quickly. . ."Chief Skeels emphasized that all such surplus equipment would have to be approved by himself or the assistant chief and the cash-strapped department has a high priority of obtaining equipment, especially at no cost to the city.
Council approves SPFD participation in federal surplus property program
October 13, 1999
Santa Paula City Council
There's plenty of surplus stuff out there and the Santa Paula Fire Department wants it. . .and now the SPFD will have a better chance of getting it after the City Council approved two designated representatives who will be the official federal surplus property "dumpster divers" for a program that could even garner the city a fire engine.
Fire Chief Paul Skeels told the City Council at the Sept. 7 meeting that a state agency acquires federal surplus property at no cost to public agencies and that the SPFD is eligible for the program.Any property received must be placed in service within one year and is subject to re-acquisition by the state within an 18-month time frame.The program could be a boon to the fire department as it occasionally can include fire engines and other vehicles, hose, safety gear and other equipment vital to the operation of the city's fire department, noted Chief Skeels."Santa Paula Fire Captain Dan Campos and Firefighter Dustin Lazenby learned about this program and expressed their willingness to be appointed as agency representatives," said Chief Skeels. Any leads on equipment they believed would benefit the department's inventory would have to go through the ranks through the chief's or assistant chief's final approval before accepting any surplus property for the SPFD.