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Hillsville to pursue loan to repair 2007 aerial fire truck estimated at $261,209
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Summary
Council discussed repairing a 2007 aerial ladder truck with an estimated repair cost of $261,209 versus replacing it (estimated at just over $2.5 million), and authorized staff to initiate loan paperwork and return with amortization details at the next meeting.
The Hillsville Town Council discussed options to repair a 2007 aerial fire truck whose aerial ladder is out of service, and members agreed to let the fire department begin loan paperwork to cover an estimated $261,209 repair.
A fire department official described the choice as repair versus replacement: repair at an estimated $261,209 with the manufacturer building a new ladder section (a process that can take about six months), or ordering a replacement vehicle at a stated cost of just over $2.5 million with multi-year lead times. "To order a new truck to replace this 1 is just a little over 2 and a half million dollars," the official said, and noted the currently out-of-service ladder section is repairable.
Council members debated financing options, including a four-year loan that would touch the department's lines of credit and the town's desire to preserve cash reserves in light of pending fiscal uncertainties. Several members supported authorizing the chief to contact lenders so the town's application would be in process; staff said amortization and the loan packet from the lender (Peoples) will be presented at the next council meeting for formal approval. The fire department official also said a small contingency amount would be included in the repair authorization to address any additional work discovered during teardown and repair.
