At the request of Williston Public Works Director Monte Meiers, the Williston City Commission recently accepted a $40,096 communication grant for his department. The city is responsible for paying a 20 percent match or $10,024. He explained the total project costs just over $50,000.

Meiers said Williams County Disaster Emergency Services Director Ed Lodwig applied for the money on behalf of his department. The funds are to be used to allow public works to switch from an analog radio system to digital radios. Meiers said public works received the funds because it qualifies as a first responder.

Williston Fire Chief Alan Hanson announced his department also qualified for just over $26,000 in communication grants.

“We’ve been following this grant for several years now. It’s been managed by the county. They’ve been doing this for us, getting all our ambulances and fire trucks up to speed,” Hanson said. “The final portion of the grant would upgrade our dispatch capabilities and finish off the last three pieces of apparatus. It would add six additional portable radios.”

Hanson said he had to purchase some of that equipment through Kotana Communications. The company is owned by Mayor Ward Koeser. He said these radios would be compatible with radios already in their system. He said the portable radios would be purchased through Kohler Communication.

Commissioner Howard Klug motioned to accept the grant and to purchase the radios according to compatibility as discussed between the two companies. Koeser abstained from the vote due to a potential conflict of interest. The motion to accept the grant and radio purchases passed.

Hanson followed up by asking about a personnel grant through the State Emergency Services Bureau of Health that helps compensate people for the costs associated with becoming a paramedic.

“We have got a new gentlemen that will be starting with us,” Hanson said. “I have talked to the Health Department. They can’t write the grant from the state directly to the individual. They designed the grant to go to the departments. The grant then can be distributed to the employee any way you would like it. It was mainly designed for the costs of putting the person through a paramedic program.”

Hanson said this new individual has spent $17,000 for just his paramedic training which includes in-services and transportation.

“He is asking we apply for this grant with his signature and allow him to have the money. The grant is valued at $4,000,” Hanson said.

Commissioners agreed to apply for the grant, but work with City Attorney Peter Furuseth on the matter.

In a separate matter, Furuseth said an offer has been made to purchase the property at 803 First Avenue West that also is enough to compensate for the city’s expense for removing debris. Furuseth said the property cannot be put up for bids because the city does not own it.

The site was the location of a March fire that destroyed the home of Hariette Weisgerber. The elderly woman was pulled from her home by a passing cab driver, but died nearly two weeks after the fire.

City officials have been dogged by concerned neighbors that the home posed a safety threat because of the debris.