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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1997 <br /> <br />the urgency to move ahead on the project, stating that further delays would result in higher costs and greater <br /> <br />challenges for the architects in meeting schedule objectives. Councilmember Haskell asked what the schedule <br /> <br />for the project would be, and Dr. Trollinger responded that construction would take eighteen to twenty four <br /> <br />months. The project architect, Mr. Rayford Smith, was present, and stated that he and his associates were <br /> <br />ready to move ahead with the work. School Board member Reverend Shackleford <br /> <br />was present, and thanked the Council for their confidence in the School Board's work by voting to move <br /> <br />ahead on the project as recommended. Councilmember Teague thanked the School Board for their hard <br /> <br />work, and also thanked Mr. David Reeves and others who worked on the project to this point. <br /> <br />Council next considered a request from the Fire Department for funds to purchase new Self Contained <br />Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), and received a presentation on this subject from City Fire Chief Jerry Brock. <br />Chief Brock explained how critical this equipment was to the safety of the fire fighters, and stated that the key <br />reasons for replacement of twenty two of twenty nine units included deterioration of elements of the <br />equipment over time, obsolescence of the equipment now in use, difficulty in acquiring replacement parts, <br />expense of rebuilds of the old equipment, lighter weight and greater safety features of the newer equipment. <br />Firefighters James Hill and John Kasar then demonstrated the differences in the new versus the old equipment. <br />Chief Brock went on to state that the total cost to replace the twenty two units needed was estimated at <br />$45,000, and indicated that $18,000 of this amount was available in his budget from Virginia Fire Programs <br />funds. He further stated that the balance of funds, $27,000, was requested from Workers Compensation <br />Insurance premiums savings, stating that these funds had become available as a result of the unsuccessful <br />pursuit by the City of grant funds for a Police equipment grant. Councilmember Teague asked whether there <br />were other suppliers of such equipment, other than that recommended, to which the Chief replied in the <br />affirmative, but stated that this was the equipment with which the firefighters were most comfortable. Mayor <br />Adams asked how the number of twenty two units for replacement had been decided, given there were <br />twenty nine units in service. Councilmembers Teague and Haskell also questioned this, stating that it would <br /> <br /> <br />