Turkey Creek Fire Board Monday approved the purchase of onboard computers for the department’s vehicles after hearing and discussing a presentation by Fire Chief Mickey Scott.

The equipment will allow firefighters and paramedics to download information and file reports en route to a hospital or fire station.“The tablets get rid of all the paper,” Scott said, explaining the system “makes the ambulance a mobile hot spot.”

The $14,558 purchase will include hardware and software. Though the purchase is “quite an expense,” Scott said “it’s an electronic world, and it’s time we moved forward.”

The money had already been budgeted for such a purchase; $14,000 of the purchase will come from the gear and radios allocation of the department’s equipment replacement fund and the remaining $558 will be paid out of the line item for report forms.

The second major allocation discussed concerned asphalt work at both fire stations. Scott had procured a quote of $85,301 for the work. Board member Brian Woody suggested the chief negotiate with the company paving the town’s streets to secure a combined bid with reduced costs for both projects.

Woody intimated savings of $10,000 or more might be realized through that strategy. The board authorized Scott to enter into those discussions and he will report back at the next meeting.

The department responded to 13 fire calls and 85 EMS calls in April. During the month, one structure fire and one vehicle fire caused approximately $7,500 in property loss. The department has been averaging about 100 responses per month in 2015.

In other business Scott:

• Thanked the members of the fire board, advisory board and town council for authorizing the purchase of ballistic vests for department personnel;

• Reported the department submitted a grant request for physical fitness equipment;

• Announced the department participated in the Kids Safety Day at the Syracuse Community Center, and attributed the light turnout to competing family springtime events;

• Reported the new grass fire truck will be delivered in late July or early August after chassis replacement is completed;

• Announced the department’s annual pork chop and chicken fundraiser will take place from 10 a.m. until sold out Saturday, July 4, at Fire Station 1 (chicken and port chops will be sold for $6 each and corn on the cob will be available for $1 per ear, with no pre-sales).

The board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, June 8, in Syracuse Town Hall.