fire department

Mayor John Hamilton said the program will help emergency responders become part of the community they serve. He added that fewer than 10 percent of Bloomington police officers live in the city.

Councilmembers questioned the city’s cost estimates, saying they needed a more detailed breakdown and more time to review the proposal.

Small volunteer departments are responsible for most fire suppression in rural areas, and they do their work mostly independent of the DNR.

Independent testing of paint flakes from last Friday’s controlled burn of a house on South High Street by the Bloomington Fire Department confirmed high concentrations of lead.

Police chief Mike Diekhoff said the department is authorized for 105 sworn officers and employs 93. However, only 76 are available to work.