Brookings County fire departments seeking ARPA funds

Brookings County fire departments are seeking $2.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding from the Brookings County Commission.

The request was officially made Tuesday by David Jacobsen on behalf of the Brookings County Firefighters Association.

Bruce, Elkton, Sinai, Volga and White are all seeking new vehicles while Aurora is looking at a used truck. The Brookings request is smaller and is for assorted gear.

Jacobson says the requests represent items the departments would not normally be able to purchase without years of fund raising and saving.

Commission Chair Angela Boersma (bores-muh) says this would be a good use of the pandemic dollars.

Commissioner Mike Bartley says they probably won’t be able to fully fund all the requests.

Commissioners expect to start allocating the ARPA funds in September.