HOWELL – Voters in Fire District No. 3 approved a budget question that will allow new breathing masks for those firefighters.
On the ballot for District 3 was a capitol question that asked to move money from one part of the district’s budget to the capitol section in order to replace the squad’s self-contained breathing apparatus.
The fire district’s current breathing devices, which allow firefighters to breathe fresh air while battling a blaze, are beginning to fail.
The referendum would allow the district to use $155,657 left over from previous capital projects for other equipment. The capitol question passed 177-61.
Louis Memmolo IV, who served as president of the Southard Fire Department for eight years, was elected as a fire commissioner, beating out his opponent by 14 votes.
The $2,014,709 overall budget also passed, with $1,858,000 expected to be raised by taxation.
Fire District No. 3 responds to calls in the Southard section of Howell, located off Route 9 south of Aldrich Road.
In District 4, the budget passed 43 votes to 2.
James Bailey ran unopposed for a three-year seat as a fire commissioner. He received 35 votes.
