Officials OK purchase of Hazmat vehicle

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners have approved purchase of a new, custom-made, $396,576 Hazmat Response Vehicle to replace two Hazmat vehicles, one of which is more than 25 years old.

The county will borrow money to purchase of the state-of-the-art vehicle from Hackney Emergency Vehicles of Washington, N.C.

“This vehicle will house all of the current equipment to respond to a spill, release or act of terrorism,” said Clark Jones, county emergency management agency director.

The county will take delivery of the vehicle within eight months, Jones said.

The new vehicle will include numerous compartments for the team’s equipment, an incident command center that can accommodate five people, and enough room for personnel to don protective suits inside the vehicle, Jones said after the commissioners approved the purchase Thursday. The Hazmat team comprises 26 volunteers.

The vehicle will belong to Mahoning County, but it will be available for mutual aid as needed in adjacent counties, he said.

The commissioners also retroactively approved the resignation of Susan E. Quimby, human resources director, which was effective May 29. Quimby joined the commissioners’ staff in November 2006.