Winona Approves Fire Ladder Truck Purchase

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jennifer [email protected]

WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council approved a ladder truck purchase for the Winona Lake Volunteer Fire Department Tuesday.
The council approved  purchase of a 2011 77-foot ladder truck from Ferrara Fire Apparatus Inc., Rushville, for $475,000. The truck will replace a 1984 model.
Councilman Greg Winn made the motion for purchase, seconded by councilman Bruce Shaffner.
Kent Adams, clerk-treasurer, said there is money in the economic development income tax fund to pay for the fire truck.
The council still needs to decide if it will pay for the fire truck in one lump sum, or over a five year period with zero-percent interest.
The council first discussed the ladder truck during its Oct. 9 meeting, when the quote was presented by Mitch Titus, Winona Lake fire chief.
Titus said the current 1984 truck is worn down and no company makes a ladder that could replace the one on the truck. A different ladder could not be used due to manufacturing specifications.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the council discussed an agreement between the town and fire department.
Adams said the fire department does not currently have an Internal Revenue Service tax identification number.
The department has not filed with the IRS as a non-profit organization.
A tax identification number is issued to entities such as partnerships, corporations and trusts for tax reporting purposes.
The council Tuesday approved the town applying for a tax identification number.
The council must decide if it needs to apply for the fire department to have tax exempt status.
The council also approved putting back provisions in the town’s fire department agreement that were taken out.
Provisions are that the town pays $19,500 to the fire department as a contribution to, and reimbursement of, expenses for clothing, equipment and automobile allowance.
Other provisions are that the fire department provides a quarterly financial report of its conditions; an annual fire report is provided to the clerk-treasurer by Jan. 15 for equipment replacement; and the fire department provides a completed W-9 IRS form to set forth its tax identification number and a copy of the IRS 990 return.
Also during the meeting, the council approved transferring $103,000 from the rainy day fund to the motor vehicle highway fund for revenue support of the MVH fund in 2013.
In other business, the council approved a $57,692.65 contract with Phend & Brown for resurfacing work at the street department and in Heritage Lake Subdivision.
Upcoming events include The Warsaw and Winona Lake bicycle and pedestrian master plan public meeting at the Winona Lake Senior Center Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Saturday events include  a YMCA 5K at 9 a.m. and a Metzger Outdoors event on the Mountain Bike Trails from noon to 9 p.m.
On Oct. 30 there is a Community Conversation at the Orthopaedic Capital Center at Grace College from 8 a.m. to noon.
Trick-or-treat is Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and the Winona Lake Community Dinner is Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. at The Hub, 1201 College Ave.
Tickets are available at the town hall for $15 per person and $12 for those 65 and older.
The Hub is behind Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church.[[In-content Ad]]

WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council approved a ladder truck purchase for the Winona Lake Volunteer Fire Department Tuesday.
The council approved  purchase of a 2011 77-foot ladder truck from Ferrara Fire Apparatus Inc., Rushville, for $475,000. The truck will replace a 1984 model.
Councilman Greg Winn made the motion for purchase, seconded by councilman Bruce Shaffner.
Kent Adams, clerk-treasurer, said there is money in the economic development income tax fund to pay for the fire truck.
The council still needs to decide if it will pay for the fire truck in one lump sum, or over a five year period with zero-percent interest.
The council first discussed the ladder truck during its Oct. 9 meeting, when the quote was presented by Mitch Titus, Winona Lake fire chief.
Titus said the current 1984 truck is worn down and no company makes a ladder that could replace the one on the truck. A different ladder could not be used due to manufacturing specifications.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the council discussed an agreement between the town and fire department.
Adams said the fire department does not currently have an Internal Revenue Service tax identification number.
The department has not filed with the IRS as a non-profit organization.
A tax identification number is issued to entities such as partnerships, corporations and trusts for tax reporting purposes.
The council Tuesday approved the town applying for a tax identification number.
The council must decide if it needs to apply for the fire department to have tax exempt status.
The council also approved putting back provisions in the town’s fire department agreement that were taken out.
Provisions are that the town pays $19,500 to the fire department as a contribution to, and reimbursement of, expenses for clothing, equipment and automobile allowance.
Other provisions are that the fire department provides a quarterly financial report of its conditions; an annual fire report is provided to the clerk-treasurer by Jan. 15 for equipment replacement; and the fire department provides a completed W-9 IRS form to set forth its tax identification number and a copy of the IRS 990 return.
Also during the meeting, the council approved transferring $103,000 from the rainy day fund to the motor vehicle highway fund for revenue support of the MVH fund in 2013.
In other business, the council approved a $57,692.65 contract with Phend & Brown for resurfacing work at the street department and in Heritage Lake Subdivision.
Upcoming events include The Warsaw and Winona Lake bicycle and pedestrian master plan public meeting at the Winona Lake Senior Center Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Saturday events include  a YMCA 5K at 9 a.m. and a Metzger Outdoors event on the Mountain Bike Trails from noon to 9 p.m.
On Oct. 30 there is a Community Conversation at the Orthopaedic Capital Center at Grace College from 8 a.m. to noon.
Trick-or-treat is Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and the Winona Lake Community Dinner is Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. at The Hub, 1201 College Ave.
Tickets are available at the town hall for $15 per person and $12 for those 65 and older.
The Hub is behind Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church.[[In-content Ad]]
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