Council backs purchase of tanker and bunker gear for La Cygne fire department

The La Cygne City Council approved multiple fire‑department capital items to modernize emergency responses. Council authorized the purchase of seven new sets of bunker gear (turnout gear) to complete a multi‑year replacement program; the city budgeted approximately $7,500 for the initial group and planned additional replacement sets in 2010.

For larger apparatus, council approved purchase negotiations and financing steps for a surplus 1999 GMAC 7500 tanker reported by Chief Dan Nasalroad. Council authorized use of $15,000 from the equipment reserve as partial payment and instructed the chief and city clerk to finalize multi‑year financing through First Option Bank. Chief Nasalroad explained the tanker would increase the department’s on‑road water capacity and that procurement included inspection and transport logistics. "We need reliable water transport for rural incidents," the chief said when laying out operational rationale.