Le Mars City Council members are expected to, as Mayor Kick Kirchoff put it, "meet at the trough" at their next meeting to discuss the city fire department's need for a new fire truck to replace an existing 1985 truck.

Members voted to table the matter until Councilmen John Rexwinkel and Rex Knapp, absent at Tuesday's session, could be present to join in the discussions.

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Fire Chief Wayne Schipper explained Tuesday how equipment condition and dependability of departmental equipment can affect the city's insurance rating, now at the respectable '5' IOS level, as well as be perceived relating to the safety of fire fighters using the equipment.

Councilmen John Leonard and Ken Nelson were both quick to underline the need for consideration of the safety for fire fighters as well as their appreciation of the current IOS insurance rating.

Schipper emphasizing his focus on "purchasing equipment that we need and not on the gee-whizzes" with an eye to fire fighter safety and community needs, said he realizes equipment such as that is needed is expensive.

"It's important, however," he added "that taxpayers can accept the cost in relationship to the need."

He added that a replacement engine for the current 20-year old truck is $285,000 and expected to increase to $297,000 in 2009. A demonstration truck, he added, is currently available for $272, 000 once a replacement decision can be made.

Bill Cole, city finance director/assistant city administrator, has said funds are not presently set aside for the purchase. Funding options, he said, are through a bond issue at 4 percent or approximately $33,000 annually (comparable to the leasing cost of such a vehicle). Debt payments could be funded, he added, through an increase in city debt levy or Local Option Sales Tax.

Also tabled Tuesday due to the absence of Knapp and Rexwinkel was action on requests from the United Way and Le Mars Chamber of Commerce for the donation of green fees at the Le Mars Golf Course.

United Way has requested a donation of $700 for its benefit tournament Aug. 28 with the chamber asking for donated fees totaling $1,920 for the Le Mars Golf Outing Aug. 25.

Cole, during the council's brief discussion on the requests Tuesday, said the donations are not budgeted for and if approved, he would anticipate they be taken from the Economic Development Fund and transferred to the Golf Enterprise Fund.