By CATHY HIGGINS

onlooker@gulfcoastnewstoday.com

FOLEY — The city of Foley will soon have three more firefighters working in the downtown area.

That’s because during its regular meeting Monday, the Foley City Council voted to accept a $349,509 SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will fund the addition of three full-time staff members to the Foley Fire Department.

“This award is for salary and benefits,” Foley Fire Chief Joey Darby said in an interview following Monday’s Council meeting.

The Foley Fire Department applied for the grant for the grant on Feb. 24.

“We heard back on July 6th,” Darby said.

He explained that being tapped for the grant sets the Forward City apart.

“We’re one of only two cities in the state to receive one of these awards, so far,” the fire chief said.

That award will bring the number of staff at the downtown Foley fire station to 11, up from its current eight.

“We have the deputy, inspector, myself and five who work a shift,” Darby said.

But these three will actually have different schedules from the department’s current one, in which firefighters work 24 hours straight and are off for 48 hours after that.

“These will work a five-day-a-week schedule, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Darby said.

Currently, the Foley Fire Department is supplemented by volunteer firefighters.

“And we’ve used supported from our surrounding communities,” Darby said.

He added that this addition will increase the department’s ability to respond to emergency’s. In turn, that is expected to benefit Foley residents and business owners by maintaining the city’s current ISO rating.

“We are a Class 3 city,” Darby said.

The rating is based on a one-10 scale, with the lowest number indicating a better rating.

“Foley has a split scaling of 3/8B,” Darby said.

That means buildings within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant have a 3 rating, while those outside of that are rated 8B.

That rating determines insurance ratings for home and building owners. Foley’s rating will be reviewed this fall.

“We’re scheduled to be rated in October,” Darby said. “We’re looking to maintain or improve our split rating,”

He’s hoping the addition of staff will help with that.

“These three people should help show that we’re able to increase our response to structure fires,” Darby said.

With funding for the addition approved, the fire chief is moving forward.

“I’d love to have these in place, or selected, by the end of August,” Darby said.

However, these are not the only staff additions the department is looking to make. As previously reported, Darby hopes to add full-time firefighters at a possible new fire station at the south end of Foley in the near future. Darby explained that it’s all part of efforts to keep up with Foley’s growth.

Also Monday, the Foley City Council:

* Gave permission to go to bid on construction of two full-sized soccer fields.

* Approved Abiding Love Fellowship’s request to use Griffin Park on Saturday, Aug. 4, for a children’s church outreach program.

* Approved the re-appointment of Jimmy Jurkiewica to the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals, whose term expires Aug. 7, and Kenneth Underwood to the Museum-Archives Board, whose term expires Aug. 17.

* Approved sidewalk and asphalt work at the southwest corner of Violet Avenue and North McKenzie Street.

* Approved the $3,095 purchase of Guard One Plus Professional Jail Monitoring System for the Foley Police Department.