Hanceville’s investment in a training program offered by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has begun drawing interest from across the state and even beyond, as fire departments from outside the city look to Hanceville’s program to help qualify their own fire fighters for duty.

At its regular meeting on Dec. 13, the Hanceville City Council got an earful of gratitude from assistant fire chief Bart Absher, who explained that the department’s ability to offer the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) — with Hanceville one of only 12 locations in all of Alabama to administer the training — is putting Hanceville’s fire department on other departments’ radar.

“Many years ago, we came to the council to ask for a project. And it took many, many years,” said Absher. “We asked for money for several years to buy equipment to get to a training program. And this past year in July, we were able to implement our CPAT training program. It’s a candidate physical ability training program that is offered nationwide. If you were to take it here, then that certificate is good in any fire department anywhere in the continental United States.

“It took a long time — about 6 or 7 years longer than we thought. And it took a lot of money. But we appreciate the council, over the years, to get that to us and take the time and be patient with us. Since we kicked that program off in July, we’ve had 43 people come through and take that class, and we hope this next year we can get a little more. That’s about $2,500 in new revenue that was not on the books for last year.”

Absher added that the program’s early success already has drawn inquiries about receiving CPAT training in Hanceville from departments that operate hundreds of miles away.

“The one thing that we didn’t take into consideration is, we’re one of 12 departments in the state that offer this program — and one of only four that offers it as a monthly program,” he said. “… We’ve had two people from the Memphis area to come in and take the class. We’ve had two from the Nashville area, and we’ve had a couple from Atlanta. And then in October, we had a young man from right outside of New Orleans who drove over, spent the night in the area, and then came to take the test, to be able to use that to further their career.

“So we’re really happy about that, and the ability to bring those people into our community from all other southeastern states — to come here to our little town and take that test and be able to pursue their career in other fire services around the country.”

In other business at its regular meeting, the council:

— Tabled consideration of proposed new signage reflecting the recent renaming of the Hanceville Public Library, in order for mayor Jimmy Sawyer to first obtain a cost estimate. The council last month unanimously approved renaming the library in honor of longtime former employee Shirley Burden, who retired this year after a 19-year career. At the Dec. 13 meeting, all council members favored the design for the new sign presented to the council by the Hanceville Library Board, but asked that the mayor return at a future meeting with an estimate on how much it will cost the city to create and place the sign.
— Adopted a resolution approving the city’s participation in a Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday for 2025. The approved sales tax holiday period will occur in February of 2025.
— Heard an update from Sawyer on the ongoing ditching project in the city along U.S. Highway 31.
— Heard a public comment from a resident concerned about disruption from a recently-begun sewer line replacement project along Edmondson Road.
— Approved the minutes of the council’s Nov. 26 regular meeting.
The next regular meeting of the Hanceville City Council will be Thursday, Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the council meeting room at Hanceville City Hall. A public 5 p.m. work session will precede the meeting at the same location.