By Melanie McGee
Yates Center News – November 7, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – November 21, 2013
Tuesday morning, Woodson County Commissioners approved the purchase of a new truck for the Rural Fire Department following a discussion of the two bids submitted to Fire Chief Nick Barney.
Barney had requested five bids but only received bids from Merle Kelly Ford in Chanute and Shields Motors in Chanute. The Merle Kelly bid for a 2014 Ford Super Duty F-350 was $33,780, while Shields offered a price of $30,400 for a 2014 Ram 3500.
Both bids were for regular cab, four-wheel drive trucks without a bed. Barney told commissioners he had requested the most basic model with no luxury features.
Commissioners John Weseloh, C.W. “Bud” Moore and Galen Yoho were all present to consider the bids.
Moore asked Barney if the two bids were for comparable vehicles. “Are these two bids apples to apples?” he said.
“I told them I wanted the plain Jane model with crank windows, vinyl seats and vinyl floors,” Barney said. “I took the sticker off the window of the last one we bought and asked for the same specs.”
Commissioners and Barney then discussed the department’s current vehicles and how they compare to the 2014 models presented in both bids. In particular, the group was interested in making sure the new truck would have enough power to be driven off road.
Barney expressed a concern that one of the department’s trucks has a smaller engine and is under-powered for it’s job.
“I’m thinking that this 6.2L (Ford) is under-powered too. There are so many new restrictions on the 2014 engines that the 6.2 is going to be comparable to the 5.4,” Moore said in reference to the department’s 2001 Ford. “It’ll be quiet, but as much as I hate to say it being a retired Ford employee, it’s going to be a sick puppy.”
Following a discussion of how to finance the purchase without depleting the fire department’s special equipment fund, Yoho moved to purchase the Ram 3500 truck from Shields Motors for $30,400. The motion passed unanimously, and Barney expects to have the truck early in 2014. His department will then have to install a flatbed, water tank and other equipment on the truck before it can begin being used.
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