Fire department receives grant for equipment

The sovereign nations of Barona and Sycuan have donated 75 percent of the $93,452 Ramona Fire Department needs to buy three new cardiac monitor/defibrillator units for two ambulances and a medic engine.

“Desperately need these,” Battalion Chief Burke Kremensky told Ramona Municipal Water District directors at their May 27 meeting. Kremensky said the new units will replace the district’s 13-year-old cardiac monitor/defibillators.

The remaining 25 percent will come from fire mitigation fees, said David Barnum, district manager.

In other business, the board approved a draft plan for the San Vicente Water Reclamation Plant. The plan addresses proposed equipment replacement and projects at the plant over the next 10 years at a projected cost of $4.54 million. Barnum said the plan does not commit the district to spending any money, and each project will be brought separately to the board for approval.

The district is also working on a rate and fee study for the San Vicente plant.