ARLINGTON — The city could have two new fire service vehicles in time for next year’s Fourth of July parade, if the City Council approves it.
At the council’s Sept. 22 workshop, interim Fire Chief Tom Cooper and Central Purchasing Coordinator Kurt Patterson presented a proposal to replace the department’s adder truck and pumper engine for less than $1.5 million.
“We looked at what the department and the community needed,” Cooper said. “We didn’t go for the bells and whistles. We just wanted a good, solid working apparatus that would be able to take us into the future.”
When Council Member Debora Nelson asked if the new vehicles would be able to serve the city’s needs 10 years from now, Cooper said, “Absolutely.”
When Council Member Chris Raezer asked if a new ladder truck would reach the tops of the city’s tallest buildings, Cooper noted that this would depend on where the vehicles were able to be situated.
“If you can park close enough, sure,” Cooper said.
Raezer inquired about a number of change orders in the proposal, which Cooper explained were the result of required features not being included in the base packages.
Cooper touted the $871,188.79 ladder truck’s 550 horsepower and the $462,677.02 pumper engine’s 450 horsepower engines, which Raezer agreed were important to power them up over Arlington’s hills.
“The longer it takes them to get to a fire, the more the fire will grow,” Raezer said.
Cooper reported that the payment on the principal plus interest would be 2.76 percent for five years, of a 10-year loan.
Public Safety Director Bruce Stedman pointed out that the Washington Survey and Rating Bureau had indicated that this vehicle purchase would help lower the city’s insurance rating, thereby yielding savings for its homes and businesses.
When Council Member Jan Schuette asked what would be done with the two existing vehicles, Cooper said the department plans to keep them on reserve, “so that they’re fueled up and ready to go all the time.” That also would help reduce the city’s insurance rating.
The council is set to vote on the proposal Monday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m.
