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Pinckneyville tables purchase of $462,858 pumper truck; council signals financing in next budget
Summary
Fire Chief Curtis Miller proposed buying a Sentinel pumper for $462,858 to replace aging apparatus, but the council tabled the purchase and advised pursuing financing and submitting the contract for resolution at the next meeting.
Fire Chief Curtis Miller proposed that the City of Pinckneyville replace two aging apparatus with a single Sentinel pumper truck priced at $462,858, but the City Council on Nov. 25 tabled the purchase to allow time for budget and contract review.
Miller told the council the current primary engine is 24 years old and that apparatus older than 25 years can hurt the city’s ISO insurance rating, which affects fire-protection classifications. He said the Sentinel bid includes more equipment than other offers, requires no money down to lock the price and is only guaranteed through the end of the year. Miller also said he has a broker-guaranteed offer of $90,000 to take the two older units off the city’s hands and believes he could receive at least $100,000 on resale, which would reduce the net cost.
Commissioner William B. Stotlar urged caution, noting nearly $500,000 in other capital commitments already on the books and suggesting the city consider funding part of a new truck in next year’s budget. Mayor Robert L. Spencer summarized current commitments he cited to the council — $150,000 for a water tower, $220,000 for pool improvements and $165,000 for a new water line by the fairgrounds — and recommended planning to put $100,000–$200,000 toward a truck in the upcoming budget cycle. Miller said he had spoken with City Consultant Pat Kattenbraker and City Clerk Melissa Kellerman, who felt optimistic about financing the purchase in next year’s budget.
City Attorney Don Bigham advised that because the purchase would be a contract, the council needed a copy of the contract to incorporate into a resolution and place it on file; for that reason the council voted to table the item until the next regular meeting.
During public comment, Jeff Egbert of the Weekly Press asked whether the Rural Fire District would share the cost; Miller said it would not. Egbert also asked Miller to confirm whether the lowest bid came from the company Miller works for; Miller confirmed that was correct.
The council took no vote to authorize purchase on Nov. 25; the item was tabled pending submission of a purchase contract and further budget planning at a future meeting.
