November 18, 2021 at 1:50 p.m.
Lake Tomahawk voters approve new fire truck purchase
Lake Tomahawk voters approve new fire truck purchase
During a special town board meeting Nov. 10, town electors voted 11-4 to purchase the Pierce pumper, which Lake Tomahawk fire chief Mike Carlin said will replace a 26-year-old four-wheel drive truck that is a "front line" response vehicle for the department.
The older truck, he explained, was just outside the recommendation of the National Fire Protection Association of 25 years for front line service.
The cost of the new truck is $575,000 and the town, currently with no debt, will have to finance the vehicle.
Carlin said he was recommending paying back the loan, which would be from the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, in 12-15 years and if the town were to chose the 15-year option, the payment would be nearly $51,000 a year at 4% interest.
It will be up to the town board to decide how the town pays back the loan, town chairman George DeMet said.
Carlin said once the town places the order for the truck, which should be in the next 30 days, it can expect delivery in anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
He was asked who might be looking to buy the truck.
Carlin said the town could expect any where from $25,000 to $35,000 for the truck to be replaced.
"There's quite a few fire departments around the country that would be interested because it is a four-wheel drive apparatus," he said. "Those (departments) who have a primarily wildland response are really interested in it."
Carlin said the rules are different when it comes to wildland firefighting as opposed to structure firefighting.
"It would be a front line firefighting apparatus for a department out west," he said. "I've actually been talking to a (fire) chief in Montana. They're very interested in it."
De Met said whatever money the town makes from the sale of the old truck will go toward purchase of the new truck.
Budget approved
Before the discussion and vote on the new fire truck, electors voted on the town budget and mill levy for 2022, which De Met said is the same as 2021.
The total is $714,224.
Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected]
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