Putnam Fire And UCDD Begin Phone Surveys For Grant Data

The Putnam County Fire Department and Upper Cumberland Development District will begin phone surveys this month for household data.

The data will be used for the county’s 2021 Community Development Block Grant application. Public Information Officer Drew Swink said the western part of Putnam County near the Gentry community is the focus.

“They will be asking for household information,” Swink said. “Within that household information is like a name, the address, how many people live in the home, the ages of the people living in the home, and they will ask for a household income level estimate.”

Swink said all information will remain confidential with no requests of social security numbers or other finances. Officials will identify themselves at the beginning of the phone call, Swink said.

“All callers will give their name, the department they represent, whether it be the Putnam County Fire Department or Upper Cumberland Development District. Anybody that has any questions about validity of anybody that calls is free to contact Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter’s office and ask the name. Make sure they work their before giving any type of information. We want everybody to feel safe and secure.”

Swink said the data is required for the federal funding and determines if the county is eligible. The grant will be used for a new fire apparatus to serve the area being surveyed.

“All the data that is compiled in the survey process will go through the UCDD for the Community Development Block Grant,” Swink said. “And the idea is once we get all that in we apply for a grant for a new piece of apparatus that will help improve the fire protection in that area, as well as, more centralized western Putnam County.”

Swink said receiving the grant funding will allow county funding to go further in other aspects. Surveys could last until February.