Council approves purchase of new fire engine

Osceola Volunteer Fire Department will purchase a new fire engine after the Osceola City Council unanimously approved a bid from Reliant Fire Apparatus during its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 4.

At the end of 2015, the Osceola city council authorized the refinancing of a bond to acquire a new fire engine not to exceed $600,000.

“The National Fire Protection Association recommends that our front-line apparatus – the engines that go out the gate first – be replaced every 10 to 15 years,” City Administrator/Clerk Ty Wheeler said. “The current engines we have are a 1993 and a 1999. Both have been well-maintained by the fire department.”

Still, some questions were raised about purchasing a new engine.

“I understand the importance of newer or updated equipment, but it sure seems like a lot of communities are starting with 20-year-old (fire engines),” At-large Councilman Dr. George Fotiadis said.

But, Wheeler noted in terms of what the Osceola Volunteer Fire Department offers, newer equipment is necessary.

“We are the lead department in the county,” Wheeler said. “We also run the interstate. So, most of the time, we’re providing mutual aid to a lot of the smaller communities around the area.”

Fotiadis also inquired about the disposal of the old fire engine and if it would have any trade-in value.

Wheeler said it would not hold trade-in value, but it would have value to a smaller department. The Osceola Volunteer Fire Department has already had discussions with other departments about selling an old fire engine.

New engine

Since fire engines are specialized pieces of machinery and generalized specs are difficult to come up with, Iowa Code does not require going through the process of obtaining competitive bids.

Still, Osceola Volunteer Fire Department obtained several bids for a new fire engine before settling on one from Reliant Fire Apparatus for a Pierce truck.

Osceola Volunteer Fire Department used Creston Fire Department’s fire engine as a template and worked out its specs from there.

“They ended up with a total project cost of $621,000,” Wheeler said. “However, if we authorize a payment at the time of signing, which we can do because we’ve been sitting on the funds for a year now, we get a discount bringing the total cost down to $593,723.”

With pre-payment, there is a performance bond built into the contract, meaning the city is insured in the case the product is not delivered.

It will take approximately 10 months to deliver the engine.

“I’ve looked at the blueprints with (Fire) Chief Mike Frey,” Mayor Thomas Kedley said. “I’m very proud of what he’s put together. He’s been very fiscally responsible. I can’t wait to go up and see this machine for myself.”

In other city council news:

• The council voted 4-0 in favor of bidding out its health insurance coverage.

• The council approved a “hold harmless agreement” with Casey’s General Stores, in which Casey’s will allow residents of Delaware Street and West Cass Street to park in the lot located at 631 W. McLane St. during road paving, while being held blameless for damages that happen in the lot.