Stratford Fire and Rescue Chief Brad Westrum this week discuss the city’s Fire and Rescue Capital Improvement Plan at the Stratford City Council meeting. Westrum said the plan will include a building addition, outfitting a brush truck, upgrading a rescue truck and to replace a rescue truck. The first step is to get a low interest loan that will be paid back with the essential service money. Essential service money is money that was voted on in 2024, that sits in a trust at the county and able to be released in the coming month to the Stratford Fire and Rescue Department. It will then go into a fund with the city that they will use to pay for the items on their Capital Improvement Plan. They will receive about $50,000 from Hamilton County and about $20,000 from Webster County. After much discussion, the Stratford City Council approved the Capital Improvement Plan and for Stratford Fire and Rescue applying for a low interest loan not to exceed $400,000. The motion was approved with Stratford city council member Doug Timmons abstaining.
Nancy Baker addressed the council this week concerning the downtown buildings. She told the council there are several buildings in need of new roofs. Baker has been in contact with Hamilton County Economic Director Cindy Im about a facade grant that is available. The Facade grant was written by Im, using part of the Local Option Sales and Service Tax to reinvest back into downtown revitalization. It must be applied for by the city and there is a required fifty percent match to be made by the city.
Baker also addressed the Stratford City Council about the Stratford Community Center. She is asking for funding to help with operations of the non-profit. The organization does do a few fundraisers each year which are well attended, but the Stratford Community Center does not generate enough rentals to maintain their operating obligations.
Julio Ortiz spoke with the council on his plans to renovate the building he purchased at 829 Shakespeare Avenue in Stratford. Plans are to renovate the upstairs into four affordable apartments. The store front is still undecided at this time. Ortiz will meet with Ottie Maxie from Hamilton County Growth Partnership to come up with ideas for grant funding.
In other matters, the Stratford City Council made numerous appointments to city and county boards and committees. Monday’s meeting was the first one for Doug Timmons as a new council member. Timmons was a former Hamilton County Sheriff who served in law enforcement for 30 years. He started his new council duties of January 1st.