Westside Messenger - October 30th, 2022

PAGE 2 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - October 30, 2022
Mums and Mummies Photos
Continued from page 1
“Mr. Mum” Tom Prince (top) poses with a
few of the mums that were for sale at the
event. The long-time Friends of Westgate
Park volunteer grows a majority of the
flowering plants in his westside home.
All of the Mums & Mummies proceeds
go to FWP to fund year-round beautification
projects at the park.
Bottom right, Tim Sterling originally
came to Mums & Mummies to show support
for his husband Allen as he performed
with the Dancing Witches of
Westgate, but two unexpected things
happened while waiting for the magical
showcase. The first was he made a new
friend in Cindy Williams and the second
was his 3-year-old dachshund Coco
took the top prize in the animal costume
contest. “I just wanted to dress her in
this cute pumpkin outfit,” he said. “I didn’t
have any plans to enter the contest.”
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America’
ica’s s Fa
av av vorite Treasure ure e Hunts!
2022
Nov. 26 &
27
Dec. 17 & 18
Antiques, Collectibles,
Jewelry, Vintage,
Home Decor, Militaria
and more!
2023
Jan. 28 & 29
Feb. 25 & 26
Mar. 25 & 26
Dressed as the Scarlet Witch, Ashley
Montana gets ready to pass out candy
during trunk-or-treat.
FIRE FUNDS
Continued from page 1
For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER)
grant to provide funding directly to fire departments
and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help
increase or maintain the number of trained, front-line
firefighters in communities.
The Prairie Township Fire Department has been
operating on a 20-year-old staffing plan, yet has seen
the number of calls increase as the westside has experienced
further development. In 2021, the fire department
responded to 6,401 calls for service, up 15 percent
from 2020.
The $3 million SAFER grant will fund nine new
positions, including salaries and benefits, for three
years. Scott says the department does not anticipate
spending all of the grant funds over the three-year
period.
“The grant allows for application of an extension to
exhaust any remaining funds,” he said. “Once all of the
funds are spent, we will evaluate our financial situation
and determine the need for additional revenue.”
Scott said the department will continue to pursue
outside funding to help pay for current and future
expenses as well.
“We have been fortunate to receive several grants
over the last few years and we will continue to pursue
outside funding to the furthest extent possible,” he
said.
Forecasting what tax revenue will look like in three
years is difficult, he says.
“We can only predict revenue based on current tax
collection numbers,” Scott said.
Predicting future spending is also difficult due to
the fluctuation of fuel and supplies, he said.
“Near the end of the grant period, we will have a
much clearer picture of our needs.”
Full-time Prairie Township firefighters work 24-
hour shifts every three days. All full-time members are
both firefighters and paramedics.
“We can hire members as firefighter/EMTs, but
they have to become paramedics within two years,”
Scott said.
The department has a current full-time eligibility
list already, so Scott says he expects the hiring process
to be quick. He plans to present a list of names to the
board of trustees at the Nov. 30 regular meeting. The
nine new hires would then begin service Jan. 1, 2 or 3,
depending on which crew they are assigned.