Barnesville pursues FEMA fire engine grant, approves automatic aid with Lamar County and notes prosecution in $75,000 check-fraud case

Barnesville’s council authorized staff to file a federal grant application with FEMA for funds to finance a new fire engine to support the Barnesville Fire Department. Fire Chief Kelvin Chute explained the grant process and council approved filing the application.

Separately, council approved an Automatic Aid Agreement with Lamar County intended to put more equipment and personnel on-scene and to help improve the city’s ISO rating; Councilmember McDaniel reiterated the agreement would not immediately lower insurance classifications but should increase operational protection. City staff also reported on a check-fraud prosecution: Interim City Manager Crawford (and later City Manager Newbern) told the council that an intercepted check payable to Amwaste was traced to a personal account and "the person has been prosecuted and is incarcerated now." Detective Peter Spahn and City Accountant Chana Smith were commended for their work on the case.