Fire commission mulls water tender purchase
The Central Fire & EMS commission discussed the possibility of adding another vehicle to their fleet during their monthly meeting on Thursday, March 17, at the Abbotsford fire hall.
Central Fire & EMS recently added one vehicle to their fleet, a heavy rescue unit that was purchased from a fire district in central Michigan last month for $40,000.
That heavy rescue unit replaces an older ambulance unit, and will house air tanks, jaws of life, generators and other life saving equipment. District fire chief Joe Mueller said the heavy rescue went into circulation on Wednesday, March 16.
“We talked about the new rescue, it’s working out fine,” Mueller said. Mueller also informed the board about the progress of the district’s fire engine.
“The salesman for the new engine was in the shop . . .it’s in production. We should have it by May. Since when we ordered it, we missed two separate seven percent increases.”
By having gotten the order for the new fire engine in before the increases, the district has saved over $10,000. Mueller also said if they were to have waited and ordered a new truck this month, they would not see it until 2024.
“They’re that far out,” Mueller said.
Mueller also told the board that there is another vehicle that exists which would help solve one of the district’s problems.
Mueller informed the board a 3,500 gallon water tender fire truck is up for sale via online auction, which belongs to the Salem Lakes fire district in southern Wisconsin. The tanker, a 1997 International/ Navistar F-2674 tandem axle water tender, has a minimum reserve of $45,000. The auction ends on March 28.
“There is a used tanker online, and this is one thing that makes it hard to bid on because there’s only ten days left. It has less than 20,000 miles on it, with a 3,500 gallon tank,” Mueller said. “The one that we have, there’s a leak in the tank in the one in Dorchester, and it’s a fiberglass tank. It doesn’t leak very fast, but eventually it’s going to keep getting worse.”
In a follow up phone interview, fire commission president Larry Oehmichen said the board had discussed repairing the water tender in Dorchester, or outfitting it with a new tank, but the cost to do so came in at $60,000, which Oehmichen and Mueller deemed too expensive. The tender for sale from Salem Lakes would not only solve the issue of the leaking water tender, but provide more water.
“It would be the biggest tank we have,” Oehmichen said during the phone interview. “In the city we’re OK, but if we’re out in the country, we need to have more water on wheels.”
Oehmichen called the number listed on the online auction at Thursday’s meeting, and spoke with DC Schroeder from the Salem Lakes fire department to get more details on the water tender, and why the district is looking to sell it.
“Over the past 13, 14 years, we used to be private fire companies, and then we were taken over by the town. We hired a fire chief and consolidated all of our resources. So all the stations became one name underneath the village of Salem,” Schroeder explained. “At one time we had eight fire engines and four tenders and four squad truck, brush trucks. We’re getting to the point where we are thinning the herd a little bit.”
Schroeder said the stainless steel tank is the original tank, but assured the fire commission it does not leak and was the least used of the Salem Lakes water tender fire trucks. He stated that the rust is at a minimum, the truck is still in service and the tank is baffled.
Schroeder did tell the commission that there has been interest from other fire districts, but that the Salem Lakes fire department is firm on the listed reserve price of $45,000.
“If it doesn’t hit, it isn’t going to go. It’s not one of those things that’s been out of service and sitting there, and it doesn’t hurt our feelings if it doesn’t sell.”
The commission has the necessary funds to make the purchase. A special meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, March 24, to consider approving the commission to move forward, should they choose, on the water tender before the online auction expires on March 28.
“We’ll watch the auction site and see if you make it, and if it’s only at $39,000, I guess we can bid $45,001 and we can pick it up,” Oehmichen said.
Other business
_ Chief Mueller said from Feb. 17 to March 17 the district saw 82 calls to service, 75 EMS and seven fire, bringing the total number of calls for the year at 196.
_ A motion was made to approve paying the bills in the amount of $80,571.74.
GIVE ME THE DETAILS -Central Fire & EMS board president Larry Oehmichen, right, speaks with Salem Lakes fire district employee DC Schroeder on Wednesday to discuss a 1997 3,500 gallon water tender as secretary Carol Staab jots down notes.STAFF PHOTO/ROSS PATTERMANN
