Greensburg Fire Department is looking to turn two fire trucks into one while city council mulls over a possible $1 million price tag.
Councilman Randy Finfrock proposed buying a new rescue pumper for Hose Company No. 1 from Pierce Manufacturing at the fire department’s request. The price, around $1 million, is being guaranteed by the manufacturer until April, which means council would have to approve a purchase in March.
“We’ll have that conversation next month because that’s going to be for real, but just be thinking about it,” he said Monday. “It’s going to cost you a million bucks somewhere. And we’re going to have to make that decision next month because the increase in April is significant. I don’t want to wait past April to do this.”
Fire Chief Tom Bell said the rescue pumper would replace two trucks at the McLaughlin Drive station — a 2005 rescue and a 1999 engine. A new truck, which wouldn’t hit the streets for about three years, will reduce costs in maintenance, insurance and gas, officials said.
It would also go towards downsizing the fire department’s fleet, Mayor Robb Bell said, something council has been wanting the fire chief to do.
Finfrock recommended the city find a way to pay for the truck in full, which he said would come with a 10% discount, or about $100,000, depending on the final cost. He suggested the money could be taken from various accounts and replaced with borrowing later in the year.
“I would be in favor of doing that,” he said.
Another option would be to make payments and lose the discount.
“If you’re willing to spend the extra $100,000, that’s your right, our right to do that,” Finfrock said.
