Mandan's new southside fire hall may garner just shy of $30,000 in new equipment to stock it through the city's 2009 budget.

Meanwhile, construction continues on the $1 million substation on 40th Avenue south of Kist Livestock, via funding contained in the 2008 budget. The fire hall is expected to be occupied in February 2009.

Mandan Fire Chief Steve Nardello said plywood work on the fire hall's roof is expected to be completed this week and it will be shingled by early October.

Nardello said the additional equipment, including hoses and tools, in the 2009 budget is required for the fire truck to qualify as a Class A pumper unit.

For now, Nardello said one pumper truck is scheduled to occupy the substation, but there are three stalls being built to house more if needed, and if interest from volunteers merits it.

Nardello said he is considering a number of options in staffing the hall, either through moving career firefighters there during the day or volunteer firefighters who would in some way be compensated for their time. He said it takes four people to operate the trucks.

Nardello said new volunteers are always welcome. He hopes to create a potential pool of candidates through the Junior Firefighter Program geared for people between the ages of 16 and 18. While these youth cannot enter a burning structure, they are allowed to carry water bottles for the firefighters or carry hoses at a scene.

The additional hall is hoped to quicken response time to fires on the south side. The southside hall could handle small fire calls alone, such as dumpster fires. In structure fires on the south side of town, Nardello said the main hall trucks would respond as well.

The additional fire hall equipment was among earmarks for the $29.1 million budget to be considered for the city's final 2009 budget hearing, set for 5:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Mandan City Hall.

Line item requests may be reviewed online at www.cityofmandan.com.

The public may give input about next year's spending proposals at Tuesday's hearing. Numerous equipment purchases and replacement of vehicles will be reviewed at the session.

These include:

n $64,000 to replace three police vehicles in its regular rotation of the fleet.

n $65,500 for a pothole patcher with the street department.

n $12,000 to buy three grass site containers for the landfill department.

n $20,000 to buy a new vehicle for the city forester.

n $10,000 toward purchasing an animal protection vehicle.

n $13,000 to buy a compactor box for the landfill.

n $27,000 for a street and lights vehicle crew within the public works department.

n $5,000 for a snow plow for a 2004 Chevrolet for the sewer treatment plant.

n $10,000 for a chain link security fence for sewer treatment.

n $50,000 toward water meters for new construction.

Mandan City Finance Director Greg Welch said a $300,000 deficit of expenses will be covered by the city's reserves and revenue from fees.

He said the city still likes to keep the reserve at a minimum of 15 percent of its budget. Welch said it does not build up excessive fund reserves.

"In this case, we have more expenses than we have revenue. Instead of raising taxes or raising the mill, let's use the revenue we have on hand that are above our minimum fund reserves," Welch said. "We don't want to touch our fund reserves if we don't have to. That gives us economic stability."

He said utilities such as water, sewer and street light have reserves at 25 percent.

Mandan's 1 percent restaurant lodging tax draws another $264,000 in revenue. However, it must only be used for for projects that draw visitors into the community. How that money is spent is recommended by the City Visitors Promotional Committee and is then considered by the full Mandan City Commission. Items such as improvements at the American Legion Baseball Park would qualify.