Council approves new replacement fire truck

Tuesday may well be considered a red letter day for Le Mars Fire Chief Wayne Schipper and members of his department.

Le Mars City Council members gave their unanimous approval for purchase of a new $272,000 fire truck to replace an aging 1985 unit.

The new truck expected "within six months," Schipper said, will be paid for from Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) money without additional taxpayer expense.

The Iowa Code, Councilman Rex Knapp said following Tuesday's action, puts fire and police departments, along with street departments, as "No. 1" priorities for communities. "None of these departments," Knapp said, "use their money unwisely or frivolously. And the individuals within these departments are very passionate about what they do."

"I'm not sure," Knapp continued, "that everyone, including those of us on the city council, really understand how much passion it takes to do these jobs, but we all voted yes today."

Knapp said he didn't start to vote "yes" because of earlier budget cuts and had to be convinced the additional fire truck was needed.

"If anybody thinks these things are easy or have suggestions for us," Knapp added, "we're willing as council members to take those suggestions. We're working to serve our citizens in a fiduciary manner. It's not that we just spent money, but that we want to protect our citizens in every way possible. I hope, too, that our citizens get on their knees and be thankful for all our city employees do in this regard."

Knapp also reminded Le Mars residents of the likelihood of higher homeowner insurance costs were it not for the local fire department's accountability to standards in providing fire protection and safety. Those factors are used in determining insurance rates.

The safety of local residents was a major factor, council member Delana Ihrke said, in her approval of the fire truck purchase. She added that while paid fire departments as in some communities can be "very expensive," Le Mars is "very fortunate" to have the highly trained volunteer department is has to protect its residents.

Councilman John Leonard, voicing his support on the truck purchase, noted his own past experience as a fire chief prior to moving to Le Mars, and also emphasized the need for reliable and adequate equipment for the local department.

"Should one life be lost (due to out-dated equipment)," Leonard said. "That's one life too many."

Schipper expressed the same concern as he commended the council for its past "pro-active" address of city issues. He had also pointed out cost of a replacement, a demonstration unit, was available at a price considerably under that for a new truck with a price tag of $285,000 expected to increase to $297,000 in 2009.

Bill Cole, acting city administrator/city finance director, told the council he thought the use of the LOST money "a perfect fit" for purchase of the truck with full agreement by council members.

It would, Cole said, take "some massaging" of current funding schedules, but eliminated the need for the borrowing additional money. Le Mars City Administrator Scott Langel, participating in the Tuesday's session by phone, added that he, too, supported the council's decision.

Cole said, meanwhile, that renovation costs and funding for the new fire station in the former North West Rural Electric Cooperative building will be included for council members' consideration at their next meeting.

"We're ready to start the project," Cole said, "and an initial need will be to replace the overhead doors."