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GAZETTE

COUNCIL OKAYS PURCHASE OF NEW FIRE ENGINE

FIRST OF SEVEN PAYMENTS NOT DUE UNTIL 2013

         Councilmembers held a workshop on Monday evening, August 22nd, to hear final considerations from members of the Victoria Fire Department in regard to the purchase of a new fire engine.  During the regularly scheduled council meeting later that evening, the purchase was unanimously approved, 5-0.

         Cost of the engine, which meets the design and specifications of the Victoria Fire Department, is $415,084.  According to Firefighter Brian Pulvermacher, the engine will be financed at 3% to 3.25% interest rate with seven annual payments of $68,265.  The first payment is not due until 2013. 

         An additional $37,500 in equipment will also be purchased to make the engine functional.  Said Brian, "Our recommendation is to pull those funds from our existing reserve."

         Firefighter Laura Wood began the presentation.  "There is a historical reluctance on the part of Victoria councils to make big purchases for the Fire Department," she said.  "We worked to overcome that.  Obviously cost is an issue.  All eight of us [on the Truck Committee] have dedicated hours of our personal time."

         "This is a need and not a want," she continued.  "We have a utility truck that is 36 years old and unsafe.  We need the support of a new engine.  We need to protect investments.  We don't want to apply unnecessary pressure.  The reality is that I'd be willing to risk my life for anyone in this room, but I don't want to be caught in a building when an engine fails.  I encourage you to make this purchase happen for us."

         Stated Firefighter Pulvermacher, "You would be getting a reliable vehicle in our fleet, a lead vehicle that would take the load off other vehicles and keep the safety.  We pursued an apparatus that is universal.  It increases flexibility for all different types of calls."

         "This truck team spent an awful lot of time working with a number of vendors," he said.  "The truck we're looking at would be a great vehicle for Victoria for the next 30 years."

         "We understand your budgeting concerns," continued Brian.  "We've identified a way to finance the fire truck by delaying that first payment for one year.  We feel it's critical to purchase it today.  There are now better warranties and pricing than what we've placed in front of you tonight. It makes this offer outstanding ... Vendors have said we designed a smart truck.  We feel this is a very good buy for the city."

         Stated City Administrator Don Uram, "I recommend the city purchase the truck," adding, "We're continually having discussions about future equipment."

         "What else is coming?" asked Councilmember Kim Roden.

         Later that evening, after the workshop and during the city council meeting, Mayor Mary Thun referred to the $75,000 that the City of Victoria gives to the Fire Department each year as part of a budgetary process for capital equipment for the Fire Department. The annual payments for the new fire truck will come from the reserve fund of the Fire Department, built up with the annual $75,000 transfer of funds.  It totals $516,20 at this time.

         "Would the Fire Department agree to our not transferring the $75,000 in 2012?” asked the mayor.   "It would help with this particular budget before us this year.  I know we will have to bond for a new Public Works facility."

         Replied Fire Chief Tim Walsh, "We're okay with that.  We will survive with the cost savings we have in front of us tonight.  It would work."  No decision was formally made on cancelling the 2012 transfer of $75,000 to the Fire Department.

 

Click here to continue New Fire Engine.

        

September 2011

City Scoop Continued