The Oxford Fire Department received a windfall last week when the Wisconsin-based Precision Pipeline presented it with a check for $5,000.
‘It was very surprising,? said Fire Chief Pete Scholz. ‘He called out of the blue.?
‘Whatever communities we’re working in, we try to help out,? said Mike Hampton, a project safety coordinator with Precision Pipeline.
He presented the check as a way to show Precision Pipeline’s gratitude to Oxford for being patient and understanding whenever the company’s work caused disruptions or inconveniences to residents.
‘Anything we can do to ease the burden a little bit, we like to do,? Hampton said.
Precision Pipeline is the company that did the construction work for the Canada-based Enbridge company’s replacement of Line 6B, a 285-mile pipeline that transports crude oil between Griffith, Indiana and Sarnia, Ontario. This pipeline runs through Oxford and Addison townships.
‘We always try to give to fire departments because they will be the first-responders to any incidents we have,? Hampton explained.
‘What we do out there is very dangerous (work) at times . . . Fortunately, knock on wood, we’ve managed things quite well and haven’t needed the services of any of the fire departments.?
Scholz wished to thank Precision Pipeline for its donation on behalf of both the department and the community.
‘It’s going to help us a lot,? he said.
Scholz plans to use $4,000 of the money to help bolster the department’s paid-on-call staffing. He’s going to buy coats for them to wear during medical calls and purchase advertising aimed at increasing their ranks.
The chief is hoping this investment will pay off when it comes to the ‘recruitment and retention? of paid-on-call staff members, the backbone of the department.
As for the remaining $1,000, Scholz said it will be used to replace the department’s computer tablets. ‘We use those on all of our medical calls,? he explained. ‘That’s what the report is written on.?
Once a report is complete, it’s uploaded and copies are automatically sent to the appropriate state and county agencies as well as the hospital.
The tablets also transmit electrocardiogram (EKG) test results to hospitals.
Hampton noted over the course of the Line 6B project, Precision Pipeline has donated more than $100,000 throughout Michigan and Indiana to municipalities, police and fire agencies, schools, local food banks and Boys & Girls Clubs.
Back in July, Precision Pipeline donated $2,500 to the Addison Township Fire Department and $2,500 to the Oxford Middle School Robotics Team.
‘It’s been a great community,? Hampton said. ‘We’ve enjoyed working here.?
Hampton provided a brief update on the Line 6B project.
‘The pipeline is mechanically complete, which means it’s ready to (have) oil in the line,? he said. ‘It’s ready to use, but it’s not in service yet.?
As for the old Line 6B, which will remain in the ground next to the new one, Hampton said, ‘To my knowledge, they’re going to decommission that old line.?
Hampton said Precision Pipeline will ‘be here for a few more months? doing restoration work on the properties where pipeline construction took place.
‘We’re cleaning up,? he said. ‘It will be complete probably (by the) middle of October.?