COLUMBIANA Council OKs purchase of new firetruck

COLUMBIANA -- Will the city's new fire engine be a pumper or a ladder truck?
That question remains unanswered, but City Manager Keith Chamberlin has city council's OK to advertise for bids for a new truck.
Council has been discussing the need for a new firetruck for about eight months. At Tuesday's meeting the debate centered on whether the new truck should be a pumper or a ladder truck. A new pumper is needed, but the ISO representative also has stated the department's ladders need to be upgraded.
Council members said both needs could be met by purchasing a ladder truck and adding pumper equipment to it. The new truck could cost $300,000 to $400,000, depending on the model and options purchased, council said.
The lawmakers directed Chamberlin to work with Fire Chief Charles Flohr on bid specifications for both a pumper and a ladder truck.
Meeting planned
Chamberlin said he will meet Dec. 9 with a representative of Insurance Services Office Inc. to discuss needed fire department improvements, including a new truck.
He said the New Jersey-based Insurance Services is a nationwide company many insurance companies rely on to rate emergency services and infrastructure of municipalities and townships.
Fire department improvements, including the purchase of a new firetruck, will help lower homeowners' insurance rates.
The city has about $125,000 set aside for a down payment and will finance the remainder.
Chamberlin said the loan payback will come from the 2003 capital improvements budget.