Commission Authorizes Purchase of Ladder Truck & Sale of Old One

IRONWOOD, MI - Monday, July 27, 2009 - At tonight's City Commission meeting, Ironwood Public Safety Department (IPSD) Director Bob Erspamer explained that a local businessman told one of the department's officers last week about a ladder truck that was for sale in Stevens Point. According to Erspamer the businessman said the truck was an exceptional deal and he insisted that IPSD check it out.

Erspamer said "So, we got the sales sheet on it. It's a 1982 Pierce Platform Ladder Truck. It's one hundred foot." He explained that the department's current ladder truck has a 75 foot reach, while the Steven's Point truck is 100 feet -- 25 feet longer. He explained that the 1982 is more modern  and it has a platform that will allow up to four firefighters at a time to be on top of a fire. The "new" truck has on-board oxygen, a water pump and everything is in working order.

Erspamer told the Commission that he and Detective Rodney Passeullo did a little research before they went to view the truck in Stevens Point. They discovered that the price, $39,000, was exceptionally reasonable. He said that he and Passuello, along with IPSD officer Leiphart, drove to Stevens Point this afternoon to examine the vehicle. He said the Stevens Point Fire Chief demonstrated the capabilities of the truck.

He explained that the Stevens Point department is in the process of purchasing two new trucks. The truck that will be replacing the 1982 Piece has a sticker price of just under $1 million.

"We loved it!" Erspamer explained, "It's a good opportunity for us to update things. I checked with the City Manager with out fire contracts, and it looks like we'd be able to pull this thing off... we have about $40,000 to spare. " He went on to say that the plan is to put their current ladder truck up for sale with an opening bid of about $4,000.  He explained that the Blueprint Plan suggested that the Department upgrade their ladder truck at a recommended price-tag of $750,000. He said spending only $39,000 is a very good deal for the City.

Detective Passuello told the Commission that he examined and drove the truck and that everything appeared to be in very good condition. He explained that the brakes and the tires are new and that the operation of the 1982 vehicle is very similar to the ladder truck they are currently using.

Mayor Noren asked if the Stevens Point ladder truck is the same brand as the IPSD's current ladder truck. Erspamer and Passuello explained that the department's pumper truck is a Pierce, but the ladder truck that was donated to the IPSD by a Lake Gogebic businessman is a Seagrave.

Erspamer explained that the 1969 ladder truck was the department's first firetruck with a ladder. He said that fighting fires has been much easier and much more effective with a ladder truck. He said the "new" truck has many more capabilities as their current ladder truck. The Stevens Point vehicle can pump water; it has a platform which will aid in rescues; it will be safer for fighting chimney fires;  and it has on-board oxygen. He told the Commission that having a platform ladder truck will essentially eliminate the need for IPSD officers and volunteers to stand on rooftops to fight fires which is an extremely dangerous practice.

According to Erspamer, the deal appears to be "fantastic." He said the vehicle has received annual inspections by Pierce. Detective Passuello explained that the people who certify the truck are the same people that certify the IPSD's vehicles. He said they will be coming next week to inspect the truck in Stevens Point. He said the certification costs over $500 per vehicle. According to Erspamer and Passuello, certification is required every five years, so having the certification already done is an added bonus. Erspamer told the Commission that the IPSD acted immediately to examine the vehicle because they realized it was an exceptionally good deal. He said the Stevens Point Fire Department put a hold on the vehicle, pending the City Commission's decision on the matter, at the IPSD Director's request.

Noren explained that he was fortunate to be on the Commission when the City purchased their last brand new fire truck. He said he visited the company and was able to watch the elaborate process of constructing a new fire truck. He explained that the ladder truck the company was building at the time was going to Bakersfield, Texas and cost over $1.5 million dollars. He said the City purchased one of the company's lower priced models at the time, and it was still over $300,000. Erspamer said that same truck today would be closer to $500,000.

Erspamer explained that even though the Stevens Point truck is 27 years old, it will work well for the department. Unlike many other departments, the IPSD will not be putting medical miles on the new truck. Commissioner Burchell asked the IPSD Director how many miles were on the new truck and Erspamer explained that it has only 21,000 miles.

Commissioner Tom Laabs made that initial motion to approve the purchase of the Platform Ladder Truck. Commissioner Lamb seconded the motion. When Mayor Noren asked if there was any discussion on the motion, it was pointed out that Chronicle reporter Steve Frank had a few questions regarding the purchase.

Frank asked if the purchase of the new truck will in any way impact the ability for the IPSD to get a FEMA grant in the future for a new truck. Mayor Noren explained that he might not be the one most qualified to answer his question, but it was his belief that most of the FEMA grants required the exchange of existing equipment to qualify for the purchase on new equipment.

Frank went to ask if FEMA would look more favorably upon replacing a 30 year-old vehicle vs. a 50 year-old vehicle down the road. Noren conjectured that FEMA would tend to favor replacing more current equipment. IPSD Officer Brandon Snyder explained that he helps with the firefighters' grants and that next year will be the last year for Assistance to Firefighters' Grants.  He told the Commission that last year the Department applied for a ladder truck grant and the City didn't even come close to garnering the funds. He said the City of Ironwood, in the minds of the people administering the grant, doesn't have the need that larger cities have for the equipment.

Director Erspamer explained to the Commission that the ladder truck is still in service for Stevens Point, and the Department wouldn't be able to take delivery of the vehicle for approximately two months.

The Commission, by roll call vote, unanimously decided to purchase the new ladder truck.

The Commission then went on to discuss the sale of the current ladder truck. Director Erspamer explained that the Department was thrilled to receive the a donation of a 1969 75-foot ladder truck from the owners of Fishtales Pub and Grub on Lake Gogebic. The ladder truck has proven to be a life-saving, property-damage-reducing work-horse for the Department.

He said if the existing truck is sold, he would still like to acknowledge all of the businesspeople and volunteers who helped ready the truck for service. He said he would like the proceeds from the sale to go toward the purchase of the new truck. He said he was uncertain as to how much the old truck could sell for, but he felt that a $4,000 minimum bid would be a good start.

Mayor Noren agreed with Erspamer that phone calls and/or visits to the businesses and individuals who worked on the existing truck would be in order. The Mayor also suggested that contact with the donor of the vehicle would be a good idea.

Detective Passuello explained, "I spoke with John on Friday to let him know that we are considering replacing the truck he donated. He was happy to hear that we got almost two full years of service out of it, and that it was a help to us in numerous fires, and I told him Bob and I would be by to see him next week."

Then Director Erspamer quipped, "And he did not want it back!"

Passuello went on to explain that the existing truck will remain in service until the new truck arrives.

Commissioner Tom Laabs asked if it would be possible to acknowledge the people who helped with the existing truck by placing "sponsorship" signage (lettering) on the new truck.

Commissioner Gemma Lamb asked if a minimum open bid would be announced prior to the bidding. Erspamer said that the bid would be open to the highest bidder by the lowest acceptable bid will be $4,000.

Laabs asked if the Department needed to sell the vehicle. "Do you need the room in the garage?"

Erspamer explained that the new truck will be the biggest vehicle the Department has ever had; there really isn't room for both vehicles in the garage; and having a second ladder truck would really not serve a practical purpose.

Commissioner Toth made a motion to sell the existing truck with a minimum bid of $4,000 provided the proceeds go toward the purchase of the new vehicle and that the existing ladder truck remain in service until the new ladder truck is placed in service.  The motion was supported by Commissioner Laabs.

Before a vote was taken, Commissioner Laabs asked if the new, larger truck would have any problems navigating through some of Ironwood's narrow alleyways. According to Detective Passuello, the new truck is not much different in height than the existing truck. Erspamer explained that alleys have always been a problem, and that the new truck will be so much more effective at fighting fires. He said that minor problems (such as low-hangling utility lines) can and should be addressed as a preventative measure, no matter what trucks are available to the Department.

The Commission unanimously approved Toth's motion to place the existing ladder truck up for bids.