Twin Lakes to split cost of new duty coats with fire department

Twin Lakes Fire Department Chief Stan Clause Jr. displays a sample of the new duty coats.

Twin Lakes Village Board members were in favor of splitting the cost of new duty coats for all fire and rescue members with the Twin Lakes Fire Department.

But the actually purchase of the coats might need to wait a bit until a change in state standards for fire department maintenance is changed.

The matter was discussed at Monday’s Village Board committee of the whole meeting.

Fire Chief Stan Clause Jr. said the coats would be used for medical calls or other responses where full turnout gear is not required. The coats would be only distributed to active members and would remain the property of the department. If a member became inactive or left the department, the jacket would be returned to the department.

The coats can be worn in a variety of weather conditions due to a zip out lining. The are water proof and can provide a barrier for department personnel from patients’ bodily fluids, Clause said. Because they include high visibility material a safety vest does not need to be worn with them.

Duty coats were last supplied department wide about 125 years ago, Clause said. The department and the village split that cost as well.

After this initial purchase, the department will purchase replacements or additions for new members, Clause said.

The coats will cost about $250 a piece, with the department having about 40 members. The board capped its contribution at $6,000.

Village Board members were in favor of the purchase. Trustee Jeremy Knoll, who is a member of the fire department, was absent.

The only remaining issue is when to purchase the coats.

Village administrator Jennifer Frederick explained that $6,000 was budgeted in 2018 for replacement of fire truck tires. Current state regulations say tires on fire service vehicles should be changed every seven years regardless of wear. By that standard, some TLFD equipment is due for tire replacement. However, an effort to change that is working its way through the state legislature and is expected to pass.

Frederick said when that change is final the village could divert the tire funds to the coats.

Clause said the department’s vehicles tires don’t warrant replacement based on wear, so he is comfortable with delaying their replacement if the regulations are changed, which he said is virtually certain to happen.