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Upper Milford considers floating interim loan to help fire company prepay for new tanker/pumper
Summary
The Township discussed whether it could temporarily lend roughly $550,000–$700,000 so a volunteer fire company could prepay a tanker/pumper order and obtain a discount; the Board tabled using ARPA funds until the Fire Company supplies written quotes and a truck selection.
At its Dec. 15 meeting, the Upper Milford Township Board of Supervisors discussed a request from Western District fire company volunteers to have the Township float a short‑term loan to help prepay for a new tanker/pumper.
Chief Mike Kline told the Board vendor prices are running between $1.1 million and $1.2 million. The Fire Company has about $500,000 in funds and grants and expects to sell its used apparatus for roughly $125,000, but staff and the Solicitor estimated the Township might need to provide an interim loan on the order of $550,000 to $700,000 depending on options, including a compressed air/foam system the Fire Company would like the Township to fund.
According to Kevin Kleinsmith, "The 2% loan application would be filed right away, and the loan wouldn’t be funded until delivery, but the loan is guaranteed." Chief Kline said brokers value the used vehicle at about $125,000 and that the manufacturer quotations were incomplete: the Fire Company had one written quote and four verbal quotes and anticipated signing a sales contract in March.
Solicitor Marc Fisher and staff recommended the Board wait for written, itemized quotes and a firm truck selection before committing funds. The Board agreed to postpone any decision about ARPA funds and asked the Fire Company to provide written quotes and specify the vehicle choice by Jan. 12 so the Township can vet requests in a subsequent meeting.
