Excerpts from the journal-topics.com:

After learning the extent of damages to the city’s only ladder truck in the fire at the former Marathon gas station at Northwest Highway and Oakton this summer, the fire department looked for ways to streamline the process of purchasing a replacement truck. Prices are due to go up at the beginning of the year, and this month offered a small window of time to see that 2020 prices would be higher than they wanted to pay.

The old tower ladder was scheduled to be replaced in the next fiscal year because of its age, but that postpones the year-long construction process at least six more months.

The fire truck purchasing cooperative with the Houston-Galveston Area Council in Texas offers members access to detailed specifications from many fire vehicle manufacturers and gives a chance to order directly from the manufacturer.

They determined the costs for the basic truck, and that the customizing would add approximately $200,000 for the equipment and controls.

The department came back to the December Committee of the Whole to ask for a purchase order, not to exceed $1,136,103 for a rear mount ladder truck made by Pierce Manufacturing with an Enforcer cab and chassis. The measure advanced to the Monday, Dec. 16 council meeting where it passed, 6-0.

The fire department will also be applying for grant programs to help cover the costs.

thanks Bill

Tags: chicagoareafire.com, new truck for Park Ridge, Park Ridge Fire Department