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Payments quell fire department spat
By CHASE SQUIRES © St. Petersburg Times, published October 18, 2000 SAN ANTONIO -- Apparently signaling an end to a spat over payments to the San Antonio Volunteer Fire Department, representatives from Saint Leo and San Antonio presented matching checks for $11,500 to the fire chief Tuesday. The twin contributions will cover the down payment for a new combination forest fire and rescue truck. The money will also outfit the vehicle. Chief Troy Newton said the truck should be in service by the middle of next month. Contributions to the department were the focus of tense meetings this summer as Newton and San Antonio commissioners wrangled over terms of the donation and the way the fire department keeps its financial records. A settlement reached earlier this month provided $3,000 more than Newton originally requested. Saint Leo Mayor Janis Klingle joined San Antonio Commissioner Dennis Phillips to present the matching payments at the San Antonio fire department Tuesday afternoon. "I'm so pleased that the San Antonio and Saint Leo commissions are supporting the Volunteer Fire Department," Klingle said. "We dug into our pockets and provided them with the financial support they need to be the first-rate fire department we all appreciate. With volunteerism, everyone wins." Newton said the new truck, built on a full-size Dodge pickup truck body, will give his department the ability to react quickly to a variety of emergencies. The truck is maneuverable enough to navigate tight spaces, carries its own water supply and can serve in many capacities, from a rescue unit for a highway crash to a quick strike unit against off-road brush fires. The chief said he hoped the matching city contributions would spark residents who live outside city limits to provide their annual personal contributions to the department. The volunteer department asks that residents in the service area contribute a minimum of $35 per year. The department plans to be open during this weekend's Rattlesnake Festival in downtown San Antonio for anyone who wants to drop off a contribution. "It's tax deductible," Newton said. "You can give it to the government, or you can drop off a check right here where you can see it go to work for you in your own community."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From today's Pasco Times |
