Lebanon City to fund new squad truck and trench‑rescue program from plan‑review fees

Fire department leaders told the Lebanon City Council that the city will use saved plan‑review fees and proceeds from selling an older rescue truck to finish a new squad truck and fund associated trench‑rescue training.

The discussion centered on why the department can pay for most of the project from an unrestricted, nonreverting account generated through plan‑review fees and the anticipated sale of the older vehicle. "This is something that we're using cash on hand that we've kind of saved up over the years," the Fire Chief (name not specified) said, adding the fund is "generated through plan review."

The chief said the new truck chassis should be finished in October or November and that staff training on trench rescue is expected to conclude so the program is "ready to go January 1." The chief also gave a cost estimate for the training: "approximately $750 per person," and said the department is seeking partnerships with Jeff Wagner and Fluor to help offset training costs. The chief noted past private support for rescue programs: "our rope rescue program was partially funded by US Cold Storage."

Council staff clarified that the nonreverting account is an in‑house label for an unrestricted account maintained by the Clerk‑Treasurer's Office and that plan‑review fees have accumulated there over several years. Tanya (Clerk‑Treasurer's Office staff) confirmed the account is where those plan fees are held and described the account as an unrestricted nonreverting account generated through plan review.

No formal action was taken; the chief asked only to keep the council updated as the purchase and training proceed.

The council did not vote on funding at this meeting; the department will return with updates as purchases and training arrangements progress.