Calling Suring a “community that has a sense of community,” U.S. Department of Agriculture leaders visited the village in which they have invested funds for public safety and municipal building upgrades.
“We can’t just drive into the community and dump some dollars,” said Stan Gruszynski, USDA Rural Development state director. “You have to have communities that care about their future, think about health and safety … and are just all-around a strong community.”
“I thank USDA for all the help. You really filled the void for our village,” Village President Jay Tousey said at Thursday’s community celebration at the municipal building.
Village trustees in February approved an $11,000 project to upgrade the entry and bathroom doors at the Suring Municipal Building, to better comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and to create a more energy-efficient entry. It was the latest of a string of grant-funded projects made possible through Rural Development.
“I see constantly the impact of those federal dollars that go to Washington and then come back to rural communities and really make a difference,” Gruszynski said.
Since 2011, the village has received four additional grants totaling nearly $150,000 through Rural Development’s Community Facilities Program. Funds were used to help purchase a brush fire truck and a water tank chassis for the Fire Department and a squad car and equipment for the Police Department.
Guests at the community celebration visited the fire station to look at the new police and fire vehicles, just as the tornado siren sounded for a statewide tornado drill.
The Police Department replaced a 2003 Crown Victoria with a four-door, all-wheel-drive SUV. The new squad is roomier, with more storage space and updated radar, lights, cage and in-squad computer.
“It just helps us keep up with the times. All the equipment is changing,” Police Chief Nick School said.
The Police Department also purchased a shotgun to replace an older model, a new rifle and other equipment.
Les Steffeck, Public Works director and assistant fire chief, said the Fire Department wanted a larger unit than its pickup truck to fight grass and woodland fires. The new brush fire truck has a larger water and pumping capacity and carries more firefighters to an emergency, he said.
With USDA funding, the village also outfitted a new fire truck chassis with a tank and pumping equipment. The unit replaced a 1980 model.
“It allows us to carry more water and is a more dependable truck,” Steffeck said.
Without the help of Rural Development, the village wouldn’t be able to purchase both units right away, he said.
The Fire Department, which responded to 40-plus calls last year, serves Suring and the towns of Breed, How, Maple Valley, plus part of Spruce and Bagley. Tousey said the department upgrades benefit the entire area.
“The budget for the Fire Department is $100,000 a year, and the newest fire truck is $108,000,” he said. “The neighboring townships thank you because the equipment has been out there.”
The Suring event was linked to Earth Day, celebrated two days previously, as part of an initiative to show how people impact the environment and the world around them.
Other state representatives attending the community celebration were Paul Strong, state forest supervisor for the U.S. Forest Service; Brad Pfaff, executive director of Farm Service Agency; Jimmy Bramblett, state conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and JoAnn Cruse, state plant health director with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Gruszynski ended the celebration by presenting village leaders with a certificate of partnership award.
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