Galesburg approves new $538,125 fire truck, limits city share to $200,000

The Galesburg City Council voted unanimously June 2 to purchase a new fire truck for $538,125, with the city agreeing to pay no more than $200,000 of the cost.

Mayor Linda Marble said the fire board had set aside $120,000 toward the purchase and the remaining balance would be divided between the municipalities that share the department. Chief Roomsburg described the truck purchase and said a $10,000 deposit is required at signing. “This is the final quote. They cannot change it once the fire department orders the truck,” Chief Roomsburg said.

Councilmembers discussed whether Charleston would pay its share. Marble said Charleston has resisted the proposed increase in rent and “they will have to hire a mediator because they won’t agree to the raise in rent” if negotiations continue, a point Marble raised while describing intermunicipal tensions over cost allocation.

Tipken moved the purchase and Wortinger seconded. The roll-call vote was: Tipken, Hawes, Harnden, Frazee, Wortinger, Chovanec and Marble — all voted “Aye.” No councilmembers voted “Nay.”

The council instructed staff to proceed with the purchase under the stated funding condition: Galesburg’s maximum contribution of $200,000. The motion’s language makes the city’s cap explicit but does not set final payment responsibilities for Charleston; council members said a mediator may be needed if the other municipality refuses the proposed terms.

Next steps: the city will provide the required deposit to secure the order and the fire board will finalize the payment split. Council members said the matter of full intermunicipal cost-sharing remains to be resolved before final disbursements.