Matt Robinson
Headlight Staff

An increasingly more diverse staff at the Deming Fire Department is one driving force behind the need for expanded space.

Chief Edgar Davalos says the addition of a female firefighter/emergency medical technician and a need for more space is part of the reasoning for seeking funds to expand the department. During the regular city of Deming June meeting, city manager Richard McInturff highlighted the need.

"Really, kind of pushing all of this is the fact that we need some additional facilities in the fire department," Richard McInturff, city manager, explained. "With the addition of females now in the fire department, the dormitories are not appropriate for what's now the reality."

Chief Davalos said Monday that he would like to see more female fire fighters come on board. Additionally, he said improved privacy and dormitories could entice further interest from women looking to serve the community as an emergency responder.

"The privacy factor is big for the males and females," he added during a tour of the current facilities, which force emergency responders into tight living quarters of four people to each room. The only female in the department currently uses converted office space for her personal area.

The city approved submission of an application for financial assistance from the New Mexico Finance Authority. The assistance requested is in the form of a loan of about $1.4 million that would expand the DFD, as well as upgrade doors at the Deming Municipal Court. The funds, if secured, would also replace the heating, ventilation and air condition system of the John Strand Municipal Building, 309 S. Gold Ave.

The plan would convert the current dorm facilities into an office space and supply area, McInturff said. Chief Davalos added that the fire facility will expand into what is now a parking lot behind city hall.

Upgrades to the Municipal Court are planned to include Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant doors and security measures.

"The court also finds itself in need of additional security," McInturff said. "I think everyone realizes that going into District Court and Magistrate Court, there's a lot more security; we need to upgrade our facility."

Of the loan, city finance director Richard Kocab said the first $200,000 would be interest free, if the funding is approved by the NMFA board during its late-July meeting. The funds are requested for the planned project start date, Sept. 15 of this year. The loan application details the proposed project-completion date is expected to be Nov. 15, 2011.

The application requests 20-years to pay off the loan, but McInturff said he would prefer paying the loan off sooner.

"We're borrowing funds at this point because the economy is somewhat uncertain; our tax base is somewhat uncertain," he said. "However, I suggest that when we get two, three, four years into this loan program, we seriously look at paying off the debt."

City Councilors approved the application via a unanimous vote.