This week the Stratford city council learned about the need for equipment for the community’s fire department. Brad Westrum and Dan Ostrem of the department gave an extensive update on current and outstanding grants used by the fire department. Last year the Stratford fire department applied for the Fiscal Year 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for a new fire truck and some radios. To date they have received FEMA grants for $80,000 for breathing apparatus, $56,000 for fire gear and a washer and $310,000 for a new fire truck. Fire Chief Ostrem explained a condition of the fire truck grant is that the fire department must have a 5 percent or $15,000. Ostrem proceeded to explain that the department currently has about $93,000 in their capital equipment fund to help with the cost. After much discussion, the council voted to accept the FEMA grant awarded to the Stratford Fire Department for $310,902 with a five percent match for a new fire truck.
The proposed garbage and recycling bids for Stratford were looked at by the city council. The motion for a proposed bid for garbage and recycling services with Waste Management failed to pass due to a lack of a second.The Stratford City Council voted 3 to 1 to accept the bid from The Trash Man for garbage and recyling services with recycling picked up every other week. Council members Catherine Bergman, Carol Bergman and Brian Ouverson voted yes with council member Terry Bryan casting the no vote.
In another matter the Stratford city council voted to set November 14 for a public hearing to amend the city budget for the 2023 fiscal year. A request from the Stratford Fitness Center for the Turkey Trot Fun Run Walk on Thursday, November 24 at 8:30 a.m. was approved. Another request was approved at the Stratford city council meeting from the Team Iowa Snowmobilers for the 2022-23 winter season snowmobile route in the incorporated limits of Stratford. Council members tabled action on a goal setting session with Elizabeth Hansen of Midwest Municipal Consulting and on obtaining a quote for cleaning and painting the pool bathhouse until the fall of 2023.