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The economics of shared facilities
By Ken Newell | 01/10/2013
Have you recently been the victim of “Station Sticker-Shock?” That is, are the eyebrow-raising projected construction costs for your upcoming building project more than your department’s budget can afford? In these times of escalating construction costs and diminishing building budgets, the answer to this question becomes very, very important. As one potential solution to this problem, let’s consider how the option of multiple facility users may be the key to making your construction dreams a reality. Read More...
Relevant Tags: THE STATION HOUSE, department, facilities, station, police substation, public safety, construction costs, shared facilities, station house, safety facility, fire police
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Fire and Rescue Equipment: Make smart purchases to fit your budgets
David Pease | 10/05/2012
As we move into the second half of the year, we can only look back at things that have happened and look forward to things that will. As our budgets get tighter, we have to look closer at our needs and the equipment that may best fit those needs. We have to now become thriftier with our dollars in every purchase we make — always looking for more bang for the buck. I had the opportunity to use the new flip jacks by Rescue Jack and the new rope gloves by Tech Trade. Both proved to be worthy pieces of equipment or PPE. The Rescue Jacks have been around for some time now and have proven to be one of the best stabilization struts on the market. T... Read More...
Relevant Tags: TOOLS OF THE TRADE , equipment, rope, jack, rescue, strut, fire rescue, smart purchases, rescue equipment, detachable jack
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Thinking about starting a business?
Angel Marvin | 10/05/2012
Thinking about starting a new business? Maybe you have developed an expertise that you think is marketable or you have an idea for a new business venture. Or maybe you have a profitable hobby that you are considering converting into a full-time business. Current business studies have shown that in today’s economy more people than ever are considering starting a new business. Whatever your reasons, if you are starting a new business (or even thinking about it), there are many factors to consider — from tax benefits and incentives to the form of business you plan to establish. Read More...
Relevant Tags: THE HOMEFRONT , business, tax, carolina, new business, south carolina, start costs, starting business
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Construction prices and fire or public safety facilities
By Ken Newell | 10/05/2012
What happened to the good old days when you could count on consistent construction cost inflation of three to five percent per year? If you were developing a Capital Improvement Plan for a new station three years from now you could just take today’s construction costs, increase it by three to five percent per year for three years, and know that what you had budgeted would likely be fine. Not anymore! We’re well into the second of the two most volatile construction pricing decades in history, with no sign of it getting back to “normal,” assuming that there is a “normal.” We all understand that the construction industry has always experienced ... Read More...
Relevant Tags: construction, fire, construction cost, five percent, public safety, safety facilities, construction prices, construction bids
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Economics should not dictate safety of your equipment
By Willie Wimmer | 10/05/2012
Well we may want to start calling this section my bitch session or soap box because this is where I vent about all the stupid CRAP that I run across on a weekly basis. I touched on this in my last article but I feel I need to elaborate a little. I was performing annual services on some apparatus a little while ago and came across a few items that I have never seen before and just wanted to share them with you. If you read this and it was you, please contact me so I can tell you exactly what you need to do with your life and not live in some fantasy world where you think you know how to work on trucks. Read More...
Relevant Tags: ALL ABOUT TRUCKS, pump, dictate safety, safety equipment, weekly basis
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When should you refurbish or replace your fire apparatus?
Daniel J. Cimini | 08/01/2012
During these economic times budgets are getting tighter and tighter. City leaders or commissioners may ask you to look at repairs and or refurbishment of your older apparatus rather than replace them with new. Your decision should be based on a sound financial bases — not spending good money after bad, keep in mind, that you must maintain and repair a vehicle during its life time per NFPA 1911, this could mean making a major repair to the apparatus. Fire department leaders must be in a position to justify their repair, or-replace decision before the city manager, mayor and council or a board of commissioners. Read More...
Relevant Tags: ALL ABOUT TRUCKS, apparatus, fire, repair, replace, nfpa 1911, fire apparatus, replace fire, refurbish replace
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Building or renovating your fire station - what does it cost?
By Brian Griffith and John Kelley | 01/11/2012
Most fire departments ask two questions when circumstances require that they either build a new station or renovate and/or build an addition to their existing facility. Those questions are, “What does it cost?” and “When can we move in?” If your department is in this position, this article will attempt to assist in answering the first question. Read More...
Relevant Tags: cost, fire, future, design, build, site, building, maintenance, initial cost, future maintenance, maintenance costs, life cycle, new station, design build
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When it pays to refinance debt
Loren Pittman | 01/11/2012
The decision to take out a new loan is usually a pretty simple process driven by the need for a new truck, equipment, a station renovation or development, or a real estate purchase. The loan process is pretty straightforward, too. You select the best rate, terms and payments to fit your budget. The decision to refinance current debt, however, is often more complicated. The reasons and benefits may be unclear, and you may not fully understand how to go about it. The tendency is to stick with what you know. Instead, take some time to consider refinancing. It may be the perfect solution for your department. Read More...
Relevant Tags: loan, payments, debt, refinance, costs, payment, new loan, real estate, annual payments, existing loans, loan officer, refinance debt, loan process
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FIGHTING WILDFIRE ON TODAY’S BUDGET Fire at the Wildland Urban Interface
Dale Wade | 10/14/2011
(This is part one of a two-part series.) What are the differences in fire behavior and control between structural and wildland fires? What are a few possible misconceptions some of you may have? The purpose of this article is to pass on a few facts and suggestions that you might find useful. I did call on a number of folks that are much more knowledgeable about the brushfire capabilities of VFDs and RFDs than I am, but the following is my assessment and I take full responsibility for what I say. I welcome any feedback, both positive and negative, and will try to answer any wildland fire questions you might have. I begin with some general com... Read More...
Relevant Tags: Wildfire, fire, wildland fire, fire behavior, fire suppression, urban interface, north carolina, fighting wildfire
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Fire Stations: Getting the most bang for the buck
Steve Baird | 10/14/2011
Choosing the lowest cost in a competitive market sometimes equates to harvesting the first whitetail that comes along. If you only had the opportunity to harvest one buck in a lifetime, would you be selective about when and where you spend your time hunting, or would any tree stand suffice. Would it be important to understand patterns of whitetail before you head out into the great unknown? Getting the most bang for your buck is not always what it seems. Watch the Outdoor Channel, and you’ll believe there is a trophy buck that mysteriously appears every time. They make it look easy; therefore everyone can do it. What they’re not showing is al... Read More...
Relevant Tags: design, fire, station, cost, budget, design build, fire ems, overhead doors, new station, project design
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Using today’s economy to your fire department’s advantage
Loren Pittman | 10/14/2011
As a society, we are faced with one of the most challenging economic times in our lives. Like a vast majority of individuals navigating this difficult environment, you may find it tough to make decisions on where to invest, or more importantly, where not to invest your personal investment dollars. The same may be true for your department’s investable funds. Read More...
Relevant Tags: loan, fire, department, savings, payment, rate, down payment, annual payments, equipment apparatus, scenario term, payment loan, rate percent
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Alternative funding for public safety construction -- USDA Rural Development
By Ken Newell | 07/05/2011
“Money’s tight!” You hear that everywhere, especially if you’re trying to get a loan. Five years ago, just about all you needed to get financing for your station project was a physical address and a pulse. But since the Great Recession, finding an institution that will even lend to you — much less with favorable terms — has become much more challenging. So what’s a department to do if you need funds for a capital project and the traditional lending institutions just aren’t “getting their heart right”? Read More...
Relevant Tags: Financial, loan, usda, funds, loans, community, safety, direct loans, public safety, rural development, loan guarantee, community facility, alternative funding, lending institution
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Your credit score: what it is and how to raise it
By Bethany McKinney | 07/05/2011
During recent years, the terms credit score and credit report have been frequently discussed and the importance of one’s credit score has risen. A credit score is a key factor in loan approvals and the interest rate that one will pay. Understanding what a credit score is and how it is calculated empowers the consumer to increase his/her score resulting in greater ability to take advantage of what are currently, historically low, lending rates. Read More...
Relevant Tags: Financial, credit, score, report, financial, credit score, credit report, how raise, improve credit
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College: Save now, relax later
Cheryl Holland | 04/29/2011
The joy of having children is accompanied by many responsibilities. One that seems to cause a great deal of concern is how to pay for college when the time comes (and it will come sooner than you imagine). There is good reason for that concern: Your child’s college tuition could be one of the largest expenditures you ever make. The best advice you can follow is to start planning right now. Read More...
Relevant Tags: college, fire, save, planning, 529 plan, save now, savings plan, relax later
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