In very difficult budget times, my staff and I were able to bring two communities in my district together, the City of Ketchikan and the City of Angoon. My office found a way for the two cities to work together and improve the public safety in Angoon. In 2010 the City of Angoon received an appropriation for a new fire truck, but the company supplying the fire truck went bankrupt and was unable to deliver their end of the deal. The residents of Angoon went without the protection of a fire truck for several years. My staff and I learned the City of Ketchikan had a surplus vehicle they were in the process of replacing, a fire truck, and my office brought officials from both communities together to see if the fire truck could be sent to the City of Angoon.
It turned out the City of Angoon had just enough funds left in the 2010 appropriation to pay the City of Ketchikan the surplus price for the fire truck and the shipping costs to get it to Angoon. I am happy to report the fire truck arrived in Angoon last week. The community of Angoon and the Mayor are very pleased and relieved as they are no longer without an operating fire truck.
I applaud the communities for their willingness and for making something very positive happen without a lot of resources. My office will keep working with our communities and grantees to find every opportunity to improve public safety throughout the district and state.
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