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Local fire department will be getting a new tanker truck |
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The Caledonia Fire Department will be adding another new piece of equipment to fight rural fires. The Caledonia City Council unanimously approved a motion to partner with the Rural Fire Association (RFA) to purchase a 3,300 gallon truck during the Feb. 11 council meeting. The city and RFA will split the cost of purchasing the new tanker, which will not exceed $145,000. The new tanker will replace a 1974 tanker that has far exceeded its usefulness and has been considered a safety liability for some time.
According to Mayor Mike Morey, who along with Councilman Paul Fisch, met with the RFA on Feb. 7, the RFA has budgeted $7,500 per year for the purchase of a new tanker. The city and RFA will each make a down payment of $7,500, and then set up financing to make payments until the tanker truck is paid off.
Caledonia Fire Chief Chuck Gavin brought several proposals to the council, one was for a new chassis and tank, with all the necessary lettering, emergency lights and other equipment for $144,700. The new truck comes with a full warranty for the truck and tank for five years. The second proposal was a used 2001 Peterbuilt chassis and a new tank for $119,000. The tank would have a full warranty, but there would not be a warranty for the truck.
“I feel we should go with the new chassis and tank,” Fisch said. “Sure, we’re going to be paying a little more for it, but it comes with a five-year warranty and it would be new.”
A question if the city needed to put the tanker truck out for bids was brought up to City Attorney Mike Murphy, who was at the council meeting. It was noted the 1974 tanker had been tagged by the ISO as being unsafe, and the city has been spending a considerable amount of money attempting to keep it road worthy. Murphy felt since it had been tagged, and a tanker truck was a very vital part of fighting rural fires, it was an emergency situation, and the city would not have to put it out for bids.
The council approved a motion made by Morey and seconded by Councilman Bob Standish for the joint purchase of a new tanker truck with the RFA, not to exceed $145,000.
In other council action:
Gator is donated
The fire department has raised $9,950 in donations and fund raisers to purchase a John Deere Gator, which will be donated to the city. The all-terrain vehicle will be used to get emergency help to areas in the fire district that are inaccessible by regular emergency vehicles.
The fund-raising effort is on-going, as the local fire fighters plan to purchase a trailer to haul the Gator, and various skids and tanks that will aid in emergency calls.
Office equipment purchased
The council approved the purchase of several pieces of equipment for City Hall. The purchases included:
•A laminator for $344.99 ($375 of which was included in the 2008 budget) and
•A new server for the computers in the clerk’s, accountants, and administrative coordinator’s offices. The new server was purchased from Affordable Technology Solutions of Caledonia for $9,709.72.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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