|
SECTION J. PUBLIC SAFETY
INTRODUCTION
Public safety in the county
and the incorporated communities involves the local and county police
protection, and fire and rescue services.
Without the proper and up-to-date public safety the quality of life
decreases. This section will discuss
the police and fire protection currently available in the county.
PUBLIC SAFETY-POLICE
County Sheriff Department
Please refer to the Lee County
Sheriff Department for information.
Fort Madison Police Department
The police department reached
its maximum strength of 26 officers in the mid-1980s, but has decreased over
the years to the current strength of 22, due to financial constraints. This number includes the chief, four
sergeants, and 17 patrol officers.
Ten civilian staff members include a confidential secretary, data
entry clerk, three full-time and four part-time communication operators, and
an animal control officer. A reserve
unit was established in May 1997 to assist the police department and
currently numbers six members.
Keokuk Police Department
Please refer to the City of
Keokuk Comprehensive Plan and the Keokuk Police Department for specific
information.
Donnellson Police Department
The Donnellson Police Department is located
at 500 N. Oak Street, in the City Hall building. The department consists of a police chief and a maximum roster
of five reserve peace officers. The
Chief is actively involved with the D.A.R.E program at Central Lee K-8
School. An officer can be reached 24 hours a day calling the Sheriff’s
Department or during the day at City Hall.
PUBLIC SAFETY-FIRE AND RESCUE
Lee
County
Lee
County EMS Ambulance Inc., headquartered in Donnellson, serves Lee
County. Equipment and personnel are
dispatched from three locations: Donnellson, Fort Madison, and Keokuk. Two units are on duty at each location
during the day, with one at each location at night. EMT’s, paramedics, dispatchers and administration make up a
total of 54 personnel.
Fort
Madison Fire Department
The Fort Madison Fire
Department was established in 1873, manned completely by volunteers. Equipment was limited to one steam fire
engine and a hook and ladder truck.
As the city grew in the early 1990s, paid personnel supplemented the
volunteers. Motorized equipment,
municipal water lines with hydrants and more sophisticated alarm systems
improved fire response.
Today, 19 paid professionals man three
rescue pumpers and one aerial truck with a total pumping capacity of 6,250
gallons per minute. The Insurance
Services Office (ISO) reviews local factors such as response time, water
availability, and staffing levels to establish a ranking for every
community. On a scale of 1 as
highest, to 10 as lowest, Fort Madison boasts a number 4 rating.
The department currently honors
ten mutual aid agreements with nearby communities and volunteer
departments. Fort Madison is under
contract to provide services to the Iowa State Penitentiary and prison farm
facilities.
The following are issues the
department foresees as being at the forefront during the next 5 to 10 years:
¨
Structural work is needed-currently have
inadequate space and parking
¨
Need more staff and funding
¨
The amount of runs have tripled and more being
first responders
Keokuk
Fire Department
This facility is currently
43-years old and serves 10 square miles.
The department’s ISO rating is 5.64.
The equipment is relatively new with a 1977 truck, 2000 pumpers, a 1980
truck, and 1994 Aerials.
The following are issues the
department foresees as being at the forefront during the next 5 to 10 years:
¨
Funding
¨
Limited staff
¨
Funding for capital improvements
Houghton/Cedar
Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department
The 30 years old, Houghton Volunteer Fire
Department has 19 volunteers who serve six square miles. The facility’s vehicles are 10 years
old.
The following are issues the department foresees
as being at the forefront during the next 5 to 10 years:
¨
Training-keeping volunteers certified in fire and
EMS
Montrose
Fire and Rescue
The Montrose Fire and Rescue provide service to two townships and one
city, for a total population of 2,500.
The facility is only 4 years old and has 25 volunteers; however, the
vehicles are 17 to 25 years old.
The following are issues the
department foresees as being at the forefront during the next 5 to 10 years:
¨
Raising of the mileage rate
¨
Upgrading of equipment and vehicles over the next
5-10 years and setting a plan to get new ones ever 15 to 20 years
¨
The loss of volunteers due to state funding
requirements
Des
Moines Township, Argyle
This 48-year old facility currently has 26
volunteers and serves the townships of Des Moines, and part of Van
Buren. The facility provides fire and
first responders and EMTs to their area.
The following are issues the department
foresees as being at the forefront during the next 5 to 10 years:
¨
Capital
¨
New rules the state mandates cost too much to
maintain the equipment.
¨
New rules for EMT, first responders
¨
New rules or regulations with no monies coming
with them
Donnellson
Fire Association
The Donnellson Fire Association is located
at 616 Main Street in a building constructed in 1991. The department currently has 30
volunteers, which serve a 140 square mile area. The volunteers are certified for heavy rescue with conditional
paramedic rating. Equipment includes:
¨
Truck 1 is a 1972 truck with, Grass Unit on
Pickup with 200 gallon water and beaters
¨
Truck 2 is a 1972 equipment van with pants,
coats, and boots for 30 men; and jaws of life plus medical supplies
¨
Truck 3 is a 1984 truck with, 1250 gallon
water-1000 ft., 4 inch large diameter how, 500 ft. 2 ½ inch hose, 400 ft. I ½
inch hose, positive pressure fan, 35 foot ladder and a roof ladder
¨
Truck 4 is a 1974 truck with, 1800-gallon water,
1500 gallon and 1000-gallon portable tanks, 200 ft. hose, 35 ft. ladder and
roof ladder.
¨
Truck 5 is a 1968 truck with, 750-gallon water,
1500 ft. 2 ½ hose, 500 ft. 1 ½ hose, 35 ft. ladder and roof ladder.
¨
Truck 6 is a 1950 truck with, 500-gallon water,
1000 ft. 2 ½ inch hose, 300 ft. 1 ½ hose, 35 ft. ladder and roof ladder.
The following are issues the
department foresees as being at the forefront during the next 5 to 10 years:
¨
Enough capital to keep equipment up-to-date with
the latest rules and regulations.
¨
Getting enough new members to replace the older
ones who are retiring.
Jackson Township Fire Association
This facility is located just
outside the City of Keokuk and serves a rural area of 22 square miles. The 30-year old facility currently has 18
volunteers and has an ISO rating of 9.
The following are issues the
department foresees as being at the forefront during the next 5 to 10 years:
¨
Upgrade of building
¨
Purchase of fire trucks
¨
Recruitment and retention of volunteers
|
