By Jamie Willey
Parsons Sun – December 18, 2013
Parsons city commissioners gave Parsons Fire Chief Larry Steeby the green light to work with a manufacturer to determine the full cost of a new aerial platform fire truck and all of the needed options and equipment.
After the cost is determined for the truck from Pierce Manufacturing, Appleton, Wis., the city commission can approve purchase of the truck and the city can seek bids on financing it. The lease-purchase payments on the truck likely will be spread out over 10 years, with funding coming from a new half-cent sales tax that will begin on Jan. 1.
During a Monday meeting, Steeby told the commissioners he and the firefighters decided on the Pierce truck after careful consideration and narrowing a list to trucks made by Pierce and E-One, Ocalla, Fla. Both of the trucks are quality trucks, he said, adding to the stress he had in making a recommendation.
The basic Pierce truck costs $1,375,932, about $100,000 more than the E-One, but it offers features that the firefighters think will add to their safety and the safety of those they serve.
The Pierce truck has a higher wind rating on its ladder, a larger platform basket, rappelling arms on the basket, a movable control station on the basket and a larger integrated breathing air system among other things.
Steeby said the equipment and installation of it may exceed $300,000, but the truck should still come under the $1.7 million he anticipated. He plans to bring a contract to the commission in January.
Steeby said he looked into demonstrator trucks to try to save money. He considered recommending one that sold before he could act on it. Other demonstrator trucks could save the city about $40,000, but that is a small amount compared to the price of the trucks, Steeby said. The demonstrator trucks aren’t built to specifications either and don’t include all of the options the fire department needs.
Pierce recommends the platform trucks it builds to be used for 15 years, but Steeby said the truck the fire department is replacing is 20 years old.
“I don’t see us replacing them before 15 years, but you know, depending on how we take care of them, they ought to last that long or longer,” he said of new trucks.
City Manager Fred Gress said the city will get an “extremely good piece of equipment,” and considering firefighters worked closely with Steeby on the selection process, they will be familiar with the truck before it is even built.
“I think we should know this truck before it gets here. I mean that’s our responsibility if we are going to spend this kind of money,” Steeby said.
All of the commissioners gave their blessing for Steeby to work with Pierce to get a cost on the truck with all of its equipment.
Commissioner Tom Shaw said the city asks firefighters to risk their lives at any moment, and if it can get equipment they want and need the city should do it.
Gress said the city promised voters a lot of things when they were considering the sales tax, and the truck purchase is just the beginning of one of those items. It shows the city staff and commission do what they say they will do, despite what some people think, he said.
Gress said the city staff will look at several financing options if the commission allows. He anticipates paying on the truck for 10 years, but if a shorter time frame can save a lot of interest and the city can afford the payments, staff will look into it.
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