Winona Discusses Nearly Half Million Dollar Fire Truck Quote
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE – Winona Lake Town Council discussed a proposal for a new, nearly half-million dollar fire truck quote for the town Tuesday night.
Garry Hickman, Ferrara Fire Apparatus Inc., Rushville, provided a quote for a new 2011 77-foot ladder truck at $468,898.
The current ladder truck is a 1984 model that is worn down, according to Mitch Titus, Winona Lake fire chief.
Titus said a ladder truck is needed to reach areas such as Grace College, Grace Village, the condos in the town, The Boathouse and Terrace Drive homes.
Titus said it would cost $100,000 to fix the 30-year-old ladder truck because of wear.
Titus said he looked at quotes for a used 12-year-old truck that would cost $250,000 to $300,000.
Titus said he felt it would be more beneficial to purchase a new truck with payments over a 5-year period and a zero percent financing option and warranty.
The new truck would last 20 to 25 years, Titus said.
Titus said it would be hard to rely on Warsaw’s ladder truck because it is too large to get down some of the narrow streets in Winona Lake.
John Boal, councilman, said he wanted a fire report before making a decision.
Philip Hood, councilman, said he wanted a longevity timeframe report on current fire trucks to be provided to the council by the fire department.
The council wants to see a report on current fire truck inventory, mileage and usage amounts.
“We are looking at a half-million dollar decision and I’m fine putting this off if that is what it takes to get a full report so we can see the data,” Boal said.
He wanted to know how many times a ladder truck is needed.
“We need to know how many fire trucks are needed for a community the size of 5,000,” Boal said.
Greg Winn, councilman, said council needs to decide if it wants to keep looking for a new or used ladder truck.
Randy Swanson, council president, said he agreed the council needs a fire report before making a decision.
“We want to be good stewards of the town’s money and study the issue before making a decision of this magnitude,” Swanson said.
Swanson said the $500,000 is more of an “intuitive common sensical issue” than something to vote for or against based on numbers.
“As long as we have two- and three-storey buildings, dormitories and nursing homes that you need to get to with a high ladder I don’t see how you can make a case statistically that we don’t need a ladder truck,” Swanson said.
“I’d hate to be one to vote down that we won’t own a ladder truck in the Winona Lake Fire Department if three months from now we have that fire where the truck is needed.”
Kent Adams, clerk-treasurer, said the money would come out of the Economic Development Income Tax fund if the town decides to purchase the fire truck.
Titus will get the council a fire report on current inventory and usage before the council’s Oct. 23 meeting.
