Benton Harbor City Commissioners have accepted a couple of grants for the public safety department. During a Monday meeting, they were told the department has been approved for more than $53,000 from the U.S. Justice Department as part of the federal CARES Act. Public Safety Director Dan McGinnis said the money will help offset pandemic-related costs like the purchase of personal protective equipment and training needed to avoid coronavirus transmission. Also accepted Monday was a grant from the state’s Financially Distressed Cities, Villages, and Townships program for the public safety department to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighters. The grant totals nearly $264,000. McGinnis said the current breathing equipment is nearing the end of its life. The grant will also pay for a new machine to fill air canisters. McGinnis said the old machine no longer works, and the department has had to fill its air bottles at the St. Joseph Department of Public Safety.
