Jeannette mulls paying for repairs to damaged ladder truck to keep insurance rates in check

Jeannette is considering dipping into its budget to cover at least $20,000 in repairs to the city ladder truck damaged by heat responding to a March 20 fire that killed five people.

“That’s better than having a higher insurance deductible or insurance premium,” said City Manager Ethan Keedy.

The ladder truck failed a safety inspection after the fire and is being repaired, said Fire Chief Bill Frye.

At a Jeannette Council meeting Tuesday, Keedy and Frye recommended that the city pay for the necessary repairs with money in the city’s budget rather than turn in an insurance claim. Council appeared to be in agreement.

Heat from the fire damaged the truck’s ladder, right front tire, fire hose and a lifting jack, according to Frye. It also melted items including a light bar and hose bed and air conditioner covers. Repairing the lifting jack alone would cost $7,500, not including labor, Frye said.

Cosmetic damage won’t be repaired.

“We’re not in the business of parades here … it’s about function,” Frye said.

Those killed in the Guy Street blaze included Tyler J. King, 27, and four of his children, Kyson John, 7, Kinzleigh John, 6, Keagan John, 3, and Korbyn John, 1 month. Two other children, ages 10 and 1, were able to escape with Miranda John, King’s fiancee and the children’s mother. Three people got out of a neighboring home that was destroyed. Other homes in the neighborhood also were damaged by the intense heat.

Frye and Keedy said they would keep a close eye on budgets, but some line items might go over their limits for the year as a result of the repair bill. They said that would be preferable to having increased insurance rates for the city’s portable equipment policy or being unable to shop around for insurance.

“I sure don’t want to be faced with not being able to get insurance,” Councilman Chuck Highlands said.

Jeannette is months away from improving its loss ratio after not submitting portable equipment policy claims for almost three years, which will mean better rates, Keedy said.