There was an item on the agenda for the Monday, Feb. 4, City Council meeting asking the council to purchase a used pumper truck for $111,000.
The money was to come from the city’s CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) funds, which has about $500,000 in the account.
The fire department is down to one operable pumper truck that is dependable, according to Fire Chief Chad French.
The council discussed the wisdom of taking $111,000 from the CIP account when money is badly needed for other projects, such as street work.
Voters turned down a recent proposition to raise the city sales tax by 1-cent, money that would be designated for street improvements.
It appeared the council was prepared to pass a motion by Vice Mayor James Hickman to table the request by French for further study.
Before the council could be asked to vote on the motion, French rose from the audience and made an impassioned plea.
“May I speak?” he said.
Given the opportunity to explain the dire need for another fire truck, he noted that the department has three pumper trucks, all of them over 30 years old. One is inoperable and being used for parts. One has electrical problems and is being worked on. A third one failed to pass a routine inspection a year ago, and the department hasn’t had the money to correct the defects.
The truck he wants to purchase is a pumper truck that holds about 1,000 gallons of water. It is also 17 years younger than the department’s other trucks.
“We work with the Vivian Fire Department. A couple of weeks ago there was a house fire in the Deere’s Creek community. They needed us to bring a pumper truck, but we couldn’t because we were down to one truck. If we took it, Eufaula would not have been covered,” French said.
When council members noted that the city needs money for streets and other issues, French said, “If there’s a pothole in the street, would you rather fix the pothole or for us to put the fire out.
“I’ve been with this department for 26 years. We have band aided everything. We are a volunteer department. We rarely ask for things.”
But, he explained, the situation is dire.
“We help other communities. When we can’t help them, it puts a bind on them as well. I understand there are other things you have to do, but we wouldn’t be here if we weren’t needing another truck.” He responded to the council considering moving the issue to a later meeting by noting there could be an emergency at any time, and delaying could create major problems.
“We might not need it for a year, but when you need it, you need it,” he said.
He was asked how soon he could purchase the pumper truck.
“It’s waiting for us right now,” he said.
Hickman then made a new motion, to approve the purchase of the truck.
It passed by a unanimous vote.
Other business
City Manager Jeb Jones announced that Police Chief David Bryning has been appointed to the executive board of the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police.
“He will be attending a conference in Oklahoma City this week, where they will discuss public safety.”
