The Midland city council unanimously voted to accept donations for the Midland Fire Department and approved an increase in the employer contribution rate to the Midland Firemen’s Relief and Retirement Fund during the city council meeting on Jan. 9. Additionally, the council approved the Police Department Renovations and Central Fire Station Addition Project.
The Midland city council voted 6 to 0 to receive a donation of $40,000 from MEC Petroleum Corp. and $132,756 from Chevron. During the city council meeting, Midland Fire Department Chief Blumenauer said the purchase of seven (7) Lucas chest compression systems would serve as an extra “set of hands” for the firemen working on the ambulance.
An increase in the city's employer contribution rate to the Midland Firemen’s Relief and Retirement Fund was also approved. The rate is set to rise from 22.2 percent to 24.2 percent of participating employees' gross pay and is effective January 1, 2024.
Additionally, the City Council unanimously approved the Police Department Renovations and Central Fire Station Addition Project. Funding for this initiative is sourced from the Central Fire Wellness Center & PD Renovations Project.
According to the city council agenda packet, the approval of plans and specifications, along with the authorization for bid advertisement for the Police Department Renovations and Central Fire Station Addition Project, was granted by City Manager Tommy Gonzalez. The bid request was subsequently distributed to eighty-nine (89) companies, resulting in the reception of two (2) bids, one being from Mid-Tex of Midland, Inc..
Seth Herman, Chief of Police, addressed a letter to Erika Munoz Martinez, the City of Midland Purchasing Manager, stating, “Please accept this correspondence as my support of the awarding of the police headquarters renovation contract to Mid-Tex of Midland. Through the prescribed evaluation process, Mid-Tex of Midland was found to be the most cost-efficient and reliable of those vendors who submitted requests for consideration.”
In a letter addressed to Regina Stephenson, the General Services Director of the City of Midland Purchasing Department, Chief Blumenauer highlighted the transformative impact of the project. According to Chief Blumenauer, the new wellness center that will be included in the renovation project will enclose the courtyard at Central Fire, creating a climate-controlled environment. This strategic upgrade not only enhances working conditions but also mitigates exposure to carcinogens in the bay area.