The Sweet Springs Board of Aldermen approved two requests during recent meetings by the city's fire department for equipment replacement and maintenance.

At its Jan. 22 meeting, the board approved the expenditure of $1,600 for equipment that was damaged while battling a truck fire on Interstate 70 recently.

City Clerk Ronda Nienhueser said the truck company had provided reimbursement for the lost equipment.

At a special meeting Wednesday, Jan. 30, the board also approved a $2,500 advance requested by the department to cover costs of inspection and repair work on one of the city's pumper trucks.

A mechanic who specializes in fire truck maintenance is scheduled to inspect and repair two pumper trucks soon.

Billie Clevenger, conveying information from fire department officials, said their main concern was with a clutch on the truck's pump. If not repaired soon, the truck would be placed out of service.

The advance and any additional maintenance costs will come from the fire truck maintenance fund, which has about $5,000 remaining in its budget.

Board members Lewis Bybee, Billie Clevenger and Vivian Wylie voted in favor of the request. Alderman Derl Bernard was not present.

At the Jan. 22 meeting Assistant Chief Michael Clevenger reported that the department had responded to 97 calls in 2007, including 11 structure fires.

He said structure fires seemed to occurring more frequently recently.

Clevenger also reported that the department roster is low. There currently are 17 firefighters available, but the roster can include as many as 25.

In other business at the Jan. 30 meeting, the board approved a liquor license request for Tina Anderson, who said she plans to sell beer and wine in a barbecue and deli restaurant she hopes to open in about a month.

In closed session, the board agreed to hire Annett Morgan as a part-time dispatcher at the rate of $7 per hour.

Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net