BY STACY SOBOTKA
Two firefighters, new to the Bruce-Romeo Fire Department, got a chance to show the Bruce Township Board of Trustees what they could do on Dec. 19.
Michael Alfonsi has been with the department since Sept. 1 and Henry Schuchard has been with the department since Nov. 27.
They were officially sworn in by Interim Fire Chief Dave Witgen and received their badges, which were pinned on by their loved ones.
After the swearing in, Alfonsi and Schuchard assisted Battalion Chief Tom Stankiewicz in a demonstration of a new life saving device the fire department was able to purchase thanks to a grant from the Four County Community Foundation.
The grant also paid for one-third of a second unit, and the board of trustees allowed the fire department to pitch in to pay the difference.
The LUCAS mechanical chest compression device provides external and automated closed chest compression, making it easier for firefighter/EMTs to perform CPR.
“When we get on the scene, we have to do CPR for 30 minutes straight. Every two minutes we switch out guys. In the back of the truck, our guys have to stand up the whole way. Should something ever happen, one of our guys is going to go flying,” Stankiewicz said.
The device can do compressions continuously for 45 minutes with one battery.
A spare battery is in each ambulance, allowing firefighter/EMTs to operate it for up to 90 minutes.
The machine can even correct itself if the device is applied incorrectly.
Schuchard deliberately set it wrong to show how the machine was able to find the correct position.
“We would like to thank Four County and the township for allowing us to spend the difference in getting the two units,” Stankiewicz said.
The board also approved an additional $3,000 for a sidewalk project from Kaeding to 33 Mile Road.
The Four County Community Foundation has given the township a $100,000 grant to cover the costs.
Trustee Paul Okoniewski explained that the project has been stalled due to the owners of an easement not cooperating with the township.
“We’re making progress on some of it but we’re stalled on one piece. If we don’t take action, we’re going to lose the $100,000 grant,” he said.
Clerk Susan Brockmann then made a motion to contact an easement acquisition rather than use eminent domain.
“Eminent domain is a huge undertaking. It’s public hearings, it can be very controversial. I would much rather engage a professional than go into eminent domain,” she said.
The board also approved increased water rates by 20 percent.
“We don’t have any residential hookups right because they just started. We really don’t have a clear meter reading for residents. For now, we’re just starting to get some of those houses hooked up. If their bill is $100, it’ll be $120,” Brockmann said.
