Westover VFD seeking city assistance with engine purchase
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WESTOVER - The Westover Volunteer Fire Department is calling on the city to increase its annual financial support for the department.
During Tuesday's meeting of Westover City Council, Assistant Chief Brad Wilson said the city has been providing the department $5,000 as part of its yearly budgeting process dating back to the 1980s.
"We're asking if the city could increase it to at least $40,000 in the next budget year," Wilson said, explaining the request is tied directly to the department's need for a new engine.
"Our engines now we have, we're currently down to our mainline engine for the city is a 1988 model. The 1994 model right now we've got all the hose off it because the tank is leaking. We're seeing if we can repair it before it needs replaced," Wilson said, explaining the engine purchased for $195,000 in 1994 would cost closer to $900,000 today.
Foregoing more expensive custom-built engines, Wilson said the department has an opportunity to purchase a commercial model for about $520,000 – but time is of the essence.
"The reason they're able to get these trucks so low is this company actually saved or were able to get some of the older emission engines that haven't switched over to 2027 yet. The only problem is these engines are limited. So, we would need to know if we can get this started next year as soon as possible so we can secure one of these engines under that lower price, because the new emission engines are running anywhere between $85,000 and $94,000 more than what the older engines are."
Wilson said the department would likely put about $100,000 down on the truck and utilize the city's allocation to help cover payments spread out over 12 years.
He noted that there would likely be a two-year lag between ordering the truck and getting it delivered and in service.
"We're just here asking if you guys would consider increasing it and just let us know soon if this is a possibility because we don't want tied up into something that we're not going to be able to afford realistically," Wilson said. "If you don't increase our budget, we're not going to be able to afford this truck."
While council is under constraints in terms of obligating funds out of future budgets, the general feel based on Tuesday's discussion is that the members present were in favor of exploring how the city could assist the department.
"My recommendation is we don't do anything because you have nothing to act on, and direct the administration to do some research, work with the fire department, come back with some information for the next meeting," attorney Tim Stranko said. "We just can't turn on a dime. We're not that fast."
Complicating the issue is the nature of the relationship between the volunteer department and the city.
While it is a fire department operating within the city of Westover, it's not a function or department operated by the city.
Both Wilson and members of council conceded that there's a need for improved communication.
"I don't have a problem helping the fire department. I was a volunteer fireman. My problem is that you don't hear anything else and then you say we need to have meetings together, which is fine, but you have to be part of that, too," Councilor Duane Tatar said.
"That's why I'm here," Wilson responded. "We want to talk about it, be out in the open about it and work with you."