Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
Franklin Park Fire Chief William Brehm recently asked the village board to consider purchasing a new truck.
He told them that the village’s current reserve engine had undergone at least $170,000 in repairs over the last 10 years. Meanwhile, the ladder truck has undergone about $278,000 in repairs over 16 years. Because of this, he said he would like the village to invest in a new quint from Emergency One Inc. that would consolidate the functions of these other two, older trucks.
In his proposal to trustees, Brehm said the purchase of a quint would cost the village about $75,000 a year for 12 years, for a total cost of $900,000, if the department sells its vehicles — the current ladder truck and fire engine — to Emergency One.
“[Emergency One] came in and looked at the engine and ladder truck we currently have and said they would give us top dollar for those to make our first payment [towards the quint],” Brehm said. “So if we find a buyer who is willing to pay more than what [Emergency One] is offering, we can get that. Otherwise, [Emergency One] is going to give us enough money to serve as a down payment. That means that two years after purchase will be the first payment [to Emergency One] from the village.”
Brehm also said that the quint would give the fire department more flexibility as the current ladder truck can’t be used on narrow streets, but the quint can. Additionally, he said the quint would be able to carry more tools, such as foam to put out vehicle fires, and ground ladders in addition to its pre-piped, 100-foot aerial ladder and 500-gallon water tank with a 1,500-GPM pump.
During the presentation, Mayor Barrett Pedersen asked what grants were available to offset the cost of the quint. Brehm said his staff was continuing to push toward grants to pay for the purchase. However, Brehm said Emergency One was expected to raise the price for the quint truck after the fall.
