The Russellville City Council met Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium and accepted an award letter from the Department of Homeland Security for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $48,571.43, with a 5 percent match in the amount of $2,428.57 and a $2,312.93 consulting fee to JMCM.

With this funding in place, the council authorized the purchase of a 6000 Psi Breathing Air Compressor/Cascade/Fill Station for filling SCBA for Russellville Fire Department.

“This device fills our Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus bottles on our packs we wear when firefighting,” explained Russellville fire marshal Justin Green.

Green said the new device is improved technology that will monitor carbon monoxide better and have better filtration. “We had been having a lot of issues with the old one, such as the compressor breaking down, so we filed for a grant to help with the purchase of a new device,” said Green.

The council also:

• Approved a professional services agreement between the City of Russellville and Civil Group pertaining to the McGee Street bridge.
• Hired three police officers for the Russellville Police Department: John Paul Cantrell, Anthony Albert Watts and Dakota Riley.
• Hired Alejandro (Aleo) Victor Wallace as a firefighter in the Russellville Fire Department.
• Hired Corey Bray for the position of heavy equipment driver/operator solid waste in the street department.
• Hired Andrea Jeri Ricketts for the position of court magistrate.

The next regular council meeting will be Sept. 20.