MB council OKs five-year fire dept plan

The Mont Belvieu City Council approved a five-year strategic plan for the city’s fire department Monday, setting a framework for fire and EMS services to keep pace with anticipated growth.

Approval of the five-year plan does not itself approve new spending on facilities, equipment or personnel, but the plan will help shape budgets and actions for coming years, with modifications as conditions change.

Mont Belvieu Fire Department provides fire and EMS response to inside the city and, by contract, to the city of Old River-Winfree and parts of unincorporated Chambers and Liberty counties.

The area covered is 15.1 square miles inside the City of Mont Belvieu and an additional 12 square miles beyond the city limits.

Growth and traffic congestion put a strain on response times, according to the report, as does a rail line that can cause delays along FM 1942 and Hatcherville Road.

The department also faces the unique challenge of sitting atop one of the largest underground storage facilities for natural gas liquids in the world.

The strategic plan will begin with a long-range staffing plan to increase the department’s employed personnel, including paramedics, firefighters and support staff. It also calls for a master plan to develop future fire stations and a possible training field.

Other elements of the plan include increased training and disaster preparation, as well as determining future equipment needs.

Briefs

• The Mont Belvieu City Council received a report but did not take action on a Community Investment Grant program.

The program would provide guideline for possible city financial support of services within the city provided by nonprofit organizations or other governmental entities.

Potential activities covered in the proposal are substance abuse treatment, fine arts, historical or cultural education, military and veteran assistance, youth and senior services, homeless services and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

• The council approved an agreement with Quiddity Engineering for engineering services related to the expansion of the Cotton Bayou Wastewater Treatment Plant.