The purchase of a boat to help fight fires on Rainy Lake by next spring got support from the Koochiching County Board Tuesday.
The boat would be used for fire protection for island properties but could also be used for mainland fires along the shore, explained Robert Ewald, vice president of the Rural Fire Protection Association. Randy Pozniak, accountant and treasurer and Dana Hartje, office manager, were also present Tuesday.
However, in order to purchase the boat, the RFPA needs help financing it. RFPA staff are seeking a low-interest loan from the board for one half of the cost of the boat, but both the RFPA and the county board will seek more information about the proposal before moving forward.
Half of the loan would be paid by the addition of island properties into the taxing district that pays for rural fire protection, and the RFPA has asked the board to begin the process to annex those properties into the district.