City of Cortland Authorizes Cortland Fire Chief Friedman to Reapply For FEMA Grant Towards Purchase of New Ladder Truck

The City of Cortland Common Council voted unanimously to authorize the City of Cortland Fire Department Fire Chief Wayne Friedman to reapply for a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant for funding for a new ladder truck for the fire department. Chief Friedman noted in last night’s Common Council meeting that this would be another attempt at applying for funding; the department applied last year, but did not receive funding.

Chief Friedman would apply to the grant for $1 million dollars, which would require a 5% local cost share by the City of Cortland in the amount of $50,000. The grant would then be $950,000. The estimated cost for a new ladder truck for the department would be $2.2 million dollars.

Cortland Mayor Scott Steve added prior to the vote he has received word from the state that funding in the amount of $1 million dollars will be coming through the Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, to help offset the cost of a replacement ladder truck. Official word from the state on the funding has not yet been announced, but Mayor Steve noted from what he has been given from the state, it will be official.

The ladder truck looking to replace is a 1995 aerial truck which was originally owned by the Ithaca Fire Department prior to the City of Cortland purchasing the truck and is well past its expected service life.