monthly meetings. Then, if 66 ….
monthly meetings. Then, if 66 percent of the municipalities’ stake in the district approve, a purchase can be made.
This time frame was noted as not being ideal for the purchase of used vehicles of this type, as the availability of such platform ladder trucks in good condition is limited and the committee would foresee a similar issue arising if another was found in the future.
The need for an aerial, or a truck with an attached apparatus that can allow for elevated access or water application, in the district was noted as a necessity due to some of the taller buildings in Abbotsford, as well as silos and barns in the area, with a 100-foot reach stated as the necessary length of the ladder. A platform truck, which has a basket at the end of the ladder, was cited as being much safer than just a ladder, which is what the current aerial the district has, as well as making certain aspects, like carrying up supplies, easier or more efficient.
In their research of used platform trucks, the district’s truck committee found that they typically lay in the range of $200,000 to $450,000 for vehicles made in 2000 through 2013. The vehicle they were looking to initially purchase was made in 2001 and was listed for $149,000. A new platform truck was quoted at costing $2.2 million and having a wait time of four to five years, which was noted as not being a feasible option for the district by the truck committee members. All of these options were above the current limit of $100,000.
Suggestions of holding emergency board meetings, both of the district and municipalities, and utilizing refundable down payments under the current $100,000 limit were also discussed when looking for options to speed up the process. Those could be used in conjunction with the raise of the spending limit to help combat the issue of losing out on potential purchases because of the length of time it would take the district to get back to the sellers.
The money for this purchase would be coming out of the district’s capital fund. Making a purchase with these funds would not increase the contributions that each of the member municipalities make to the district, as these are the funds that the district sets aside for potential purchases such as these.
The district would have the money to pay for a $400,000 purchase with their current balances, but it was noted that it would be running those balances low. Board president Larry Oehmichen and fire chief Joe Mueller noted that this could be beneficial when it comes to applying for grants and how much state aid the district receives, but they and other board members noted that a fine balance needs to be maintained as a safety net in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Reaching out to local businesses, especially those that would benefit from the use of the new platform truck, for donations towards the purchase was also aired during discussions of the funding the cost of the vehicle.
The purchased vehicle would not be a pure addition to the district’s current inventory of vehicles, but rather a replacement for the old 1991 ladder truck which would be sold following the purchase. It was roughly estimated that the old vehicle could sell for $50,000 to $100,000, though specific research into that had not yet been done at the time of the meeting.
With the district board’s approval of the proposal, it will be sent to each of the municipalities to discuss and vote upon at their monthly May meetings.
