By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
CENTER POINT – The Center Point Fire Department has experienced an increase in the number of calls in recent months, according to Captain Chris Horn. Captain Horn delivered an update during the regular meeting of the Center Point City Council on Thursday night, June 1.
“Our medical calls are up over 75.14%,” Horn told the Council. “Our fire calls are about 10.41.”
Horn said the department made 843 runs for the month of May, which includes fire and other emergencies. For the year to date, the department has experienced 5315 service calls.
Horn introduced Lieutenant Austin Osborne, the city’s new EMS officer. Osborne has been in fire service for eight years and has served with Center Point for four years. He was recently promoted to Lieutenant.
“I thank you for the opportunity,” Osborne said. “I look forward to continuing to fulfill the role and bring great service to the city.” Osborne is expecting to help the city resume monthly CPR classes beginning in July.
Captain Horn updated the Council on the department’s annual golf tournament. This year’s tournament is July 31 at Grayson Valley Country Club. The Rickey Davis Memorial Golf Tournament is held each year to raise funds and awareness for the department. It is named in honor of Rickey Levi Davis, a Center Point firefighter who was killed in the line of duty on April 20, 2000.
Horn also noted the department is checking fire hydrants in the city and said people should run their water for a few minutes after hydrants are checked in their neighborhoods in order to clear the lines.
The Council approved two resolutions in the meeting. One of them was a travel advance in the consent agenda.
Another resolution concerning the purchase vehicles for the city was erroneously included on the agenda and removed from the consent portion for further discussion. The item led to a few moments of contentious debate over procedure before moving forward.
Council President DM Collins asked for the item, Resolution 2023-55, to be removed from the agenda and addressed at a later date because an additional vehicle was added to the purchase request.
“There was no communication prior to it being placed on the agenda,” Collins said. Collins elaborated saying she understood the need for the vehicle but said she asked for it to be removed because proper procedure was not followed before placing it on the agenda.
Councilwoman Tiffany Moore objected to the item being removed from the agenda. After some discussion, she made a motion to consider the purchase of the vehicle due to time constraints and the immediate need for vehicles in code enforcement.
“I understand the procedure of you being notified,” Moore said to Collins. “But, considering that we’re already down two vehicles and we’ve been waiting and there has been no availability of vehicles,” she said it would be in the best interest to “go ahead and put this item on the agenda and let the entire council discuss whether or not we would like to proceed,” she added. She explained the vehicles might not be available by the next time it could be considered for approval.
“Your point was made when you spoke with them about the miscommunication but that does not negate that the city needs the vehicles,” Moore added.
Moore made the motion to amend the resolution to include the added vehicle. The Council approved the purchase of a 2022 Ford F-150 for the price of $43,152.
The Center Point City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at City Hall located at 2209 Center Point Parkway. The next meeting will be held Thursday, June 15, at 6:30 p.m.