Waddington gets grant to put toward firetruck

WADDINGTON — The volunteer fire department has been awarded a $156,750 grant that will nearly cover the cost of a new tanker truck.

Cost of the 2010 Kenworth tanker is $165,350. The village will cover what the grant doesn't. The truck will replace a 1983 model that had been converted into a tanker more than a decade ago.

"I think it actually used to be a furniture truck," Fire Chief Jim Armstrong said.

Volunteer firefighter Toby W. Bogart applied for the federal grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters program.

Mayor Janet M. Otto-Cassada said Mr. Bogart has been instrumental in saving the village money through his grant application efforts.

"Look at it like this: Our fire department is getting a $165,000 fire truck for $8,600," she said. "Without the service of Mr. Bogart, this would not be possible. He has once again gone out of his way to help the village, the fire department and the residents of the town and village of Waddington."

Mr. Bogart resides in the town of Waddington. He is second assistant chief in the department and was honored by the village recently at the annual banquet for his work in filing grant applications.