Instead of going forward with the purchase of a new dive truck, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Joel Shilling made the decision to purchase a used one instead.
The money the fire department saves will be used toward purchasing new SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) equipment instead of leasing SCBAs for five years.
At Tuesday’s WWFT Board meeting, Shilling asked for authorization to purchase a 1998 International Navistar Rescue vehicle from the Mentone Fire Department for $49,999. Upgrades to the truck to meet specific department needs are not expected to exceed an additional $25,000.
In the budget for 2025 was $700,000 for the purchase of a new dive truck.
“... I spent a lot of my time when I came in looking at the operating budget, and I didn’t really mess with the equipment replacement budget. I kind of left it how (prior Fire Chief Brian) Mayo had it,” Shilling said.
As he went through the budget and looked at the needs for the department, he felt the $700,000 for a new dive truck - based on the amount of calls they get requiring dive rescue - wasn’t necessary. At the same time, the department needed new air paks.
In talking with Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen, Shilling said $75,000 per year for five years for leasing air paks had been budgeted, starting this year.
“I didn’t feel that was a good use of the dollars, along with the $700,000 with the dive truck, so I decided to cancel the purchase of the dive truck and utilize those funds, with your guys’ approval, to purchase the air paks,” Shilling explained.
He talked with the dive commander and some members of the dive team, along with the fire department’s truck committee, and they decided it was a good move not to purchase the new dive truck.
Two days later, Shilling received a phone call from the dive commander telling him that the Mentone Fire Department reached out and they had the perfect truck for them.
A group, including Damian Pass, street department mechanic who also works on the fire department’s apparatuses; R.J. Nethaway, Warsaw Police Department detective sergeant and dive commander for the city; WWFT Capt. Drew Shilling, fire department dive team leader; and Lt. Brent Fifer, WWFT truck committee chairman; went down to look at Mentone’s truck. After discussion, Mentone said they were willing to part with their truck for $49,999.
“It is almost identical to the spec of the new truck that the dive team was wanting to purchase. So I just feel it’s a better use of the funds for the amount of calls that go on,” Shilling said. “This will allow us to utilize this style of truck because we’re completely switching styles of trucks from the dive truck we have now and purchasing this one will, I feel, use the tax dollars more appropriately to ensure that that’s the style of truck we need rather than spending $700,000.”
The Mentone truck will need some upgrades, such as lighting and interior work.
Councilman Mike Klondaris asked what year is the current dive truck. Shilling said it was either a 1997 or 1998, but it’s a totally different style of truck and the Mentone truck will better meet the dive team’s needs.
Mayor Jeff Grose said it was $75,000 for Mentone’s truck versus $700,000 for a new dive truck.
“As a taxpayer, thank you for your fiduciary responsibility,” Klondaris said.
Gordon Nash, board member, said he imagined the engine hours would also be a lot less compared to what they have now. Shilling didn’t have the exact numbers, but believed the Mentone truck had less than 26,000 miles on it. Mentone also is leaving equipment on it, such as a generator.
“And it helps Mentone Fire Department out, too,” Shilling said.
Klondaris said it was a win-win-win for everyone.
The board unanimously approved for Shilling to purchase the truck from Mentone. The purchase also will have to be approved by the Board of Public Works and Safety.
Shilling then updated the board on the purchase of the SCBA equipment.
On May 2 at the Board of Works meeting, a single bid was opened for 45 3M Scott Air-Pak X3 Pro SCBAs, 50 3M Scott Vision C5 Facepieces and 75 3M Scott Cylinder and Valve Assemblies. The sole bid was from Hoosier Fire Equipment Inc. for a total of $393,618.75. The Board of Works approved the bid. The new SCBAs will replace gear that is 13 years old.
Shilling reiterated to the WWFT Board that he originally budgeted $75,000 for 2025 to lease them.
“I don’t feel - after we got the bid - we had the money. Through working with the clerk-treasurer’s office, we have the money in our equipment replacement fund, and that’s where - with your approval of the dive truck - that freed up some of those funds to be able to use for this purchase as well,” he stated. “... Just to inform you I do not plan on leasing that, I do plan on utilizing the funds that we saved on the dive truck to purchase these.”
Klondaris pointed out that by purchasing the gear instead of leasing, the fire department will own them for longer than they would have them if they leased them.
The WWFT Board approved the steps Shilling was taking with the gear.