The Leighton Township Board soon will have to decide whether to buy a new fire truck or have a 24-year-old unit repaired.
Fire Chief Tony Banas and two other department members brought the question to the board Thursday night, but the matter was tabled in order to get a little more information before the budget workshop planned for 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18.
Banas said the pumper on Engine No. 12, a 1991 GMC model, failed and now is operating at only about 50% efficiency and it has been shown to have motor and transmission issues.
“It has served us well,” the chief said, “but it’s getting old.”
Banas said estimates to rebuild the pumper have been set at $9,245 and rebuilding the transmission and aging engine have been pegged at more than $19,000, bringing the total cost of a repair project to about $28,500.
Another option, he said, is to purchase a new vehicle from Pierce Manufacturing in Florida, ready to go in about a month, for $371,618.
“If we order from Pierce, we could have it in about a month, and it would meet our needs,” Banas told the board.
“There’s a huge difference between $30,000 (for repairs) and $371,000,” said Treasurer Car Troost.
Banas noted the 1991 vehicle could be sold for between $10,000 and $15,000, but that’s about it.
“I don’t see the wisdom in spending about $30,000 on a truck that’s only worth ten to fifteen thousand dollars,” said Trustee John Hooker.
Supervisor Steve Deer asked if the repairs could buy another five years of life for the 1991 truck.
Banas said he really couldn’t make a solid prediction.
Furthermore, it was noted that the $371,000 price tag on a new unit could be increased by as much as $64,000 next year.
Troost and Clerk Mary Lou Nieuwenhuis suggested bring the issue back for next Wednesday’s budget workshop, asking Deer to check with the City of Wayland and Wayland if there is any progress on the idea of creating a fire district.
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