Grant enabling NK to hire six more fire/EMS workers

New Kent Fire/Rescue plans to more than double its number of fulltime, paid workers, thanks to a federal homeland security grant.

County officials learned last week that New Kent has won a SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant administered by the Department of Homeland Security.

The $758,856 in federal dollars along with a county match of $977,047, all spread over the next five years, will pay for six fulltime fire/emergency medical workers. That raises the number of paid personnel on New Kent’s staff to 11.

New Kent fire chief Tommy Hicks said his department is looking to hire workers immediately and have them on staff by the time the grant money kicks in on May 6.

Money from the county’s revenue recovery fees, collected through a patient’s insurance for EMS service and transport, is expected to cover New Kent’s matching share through the first three years of the grant. The federal share, however, decreases each year so that by year four, the county may have to dip into its general fund to fully fund the final two years. Federal money runs out after year four.

“The reason we got funded is because we are not up to standards,” county administrator John Budesky told Board of Supervisors members during their March 25 work session.

“We’ll have to make general fund contributions if our cost recovery does not grow,” he said. “Our demand for fire/rescue service is going to grow regardless of what the economy looks like.”

Hicks said New Kent is one of only 10 Virginia localities to receive grants.

Included in the grant is just over $108,000 in federal dollars that serve as a fuel stipend for the county’s volunteer fire/EMS staff. Based on current rates for fuel reimbursement, mileage traveled to fire stations for training and to respond to calls is reimbursed to volunteers.