Bloomfield votes to purchase new fire trucks

Thursday, July 2, 2009
By Corey Noles Statesman Staff Writer

Corey Noles photo This 1980 Ford tanker truck is one of two trucks recently purchased by the City of Bloomfield. The pumper is currently out of service having a light bar installed and having some other basic additions made.

In an early June meeting of the Bloomfield Board of Aldermen, following several lengthy debates, the decision was made to purchase two new fire trucks for the city.

The board voted in a split decision to follow the recommendation of the committee appointed to investigate the issue.

Alderman Donna Deardorff and Alderman Missy Douglas both voted against the motion creating a tie to be broken by Mayor Scott Staggs who voted for the recommendation.

The Board's decision encompassed several different moves.

First, it was decided to sell Engine #3 to the water department for $2,500.

Second, the decision was made to purchase a 1980 Ford stainless steel tanker truck for $46,300.

In the third and largest decision, the Board voted to purchase a 1993 Pierce Lance Pumper for $164,000. The current Engine #2, an American LaFranc pumper, will be traded in to Jon's Mid America.

Alderman Tom Bischof voted against the move.

According to the minutes from the meeting, it is reported that Mayor Staggs made it very clear to the fire department that there would be no other purchases made for the department for a very long time.

Comments

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Has the city council ever looked around at how the rest of the world works? I find it odd that all of a sudden with this city council Bloomfield decides to make two major fire department purchases in one night. What was wrong with the old fire truck? I visited www.gov.com and found what looked like several good used fire trucks at a much less price.

-- Posted by drifter on Fri, Jul 3, 2009, at 7:41 AM

Just more folks with a title needing to do "something" to show their power and status. Just sit back and let the important, smart people get things done. It is working in Jeff City and Washington DC just fine.

-- Posted by shannonhoon on Fri, Jul 3, 2009, at 9:15 AM