Choice Made On New Fire Truck Bid
WARSAW — Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire Protection Territory unanimously approved to recommend Hoosier Fire Equipment, Inc., Valparaiso, be awarded the bid on a new rescue truck. The decision was made at the territory’s regular meeting Tuesday, March 29. The recommendation will go for approval before the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on Friday, April 1.
Former Fire Chief Michael Brubaker and Fire Department Lt. Travis Rowland presented the recommendation Using a bid grading sheet, Brubaker and Rowland reported Hoosier Fire Equipment and subcontractor Marion Body Works, Inc., received almost a perfect score. The company’s bid was $578,402. Other bids were from SVI Trucks, Fort Collins, Colo., at $592,170; and Crossroads Ambulance Sales and Service, Middlebury, at $645,848.
Brubaker additionally requested approval for a change order to the original spec. He stated the spec for 22-inch wide vinyl rear seats are not available. Hoosier Fire submitted an alternate bid for 19-inch dura wear seats at an additional $2,400. Even with the alternate seat bid, Hoosier Fire Equipment is still the lowest bidder, with a total of $580,802.
“We took the bells and whistles out of it,” said Brubaker. The truck will carry what firefighters will need to respond to calls — ladders, ventilation fans, rescue equipment. “It will take us into the future.”
It was also noted a 3 percent to 5 percent discount will be received if the chassis cost is paid upon completion of the build. Funds to “pay cash” for the truck are available. It was additionally stated the truck will be deliverable approximately 300 days after the contract is signed.
While not on the agenda, a brief update on Station 3 was provided by Fire Chief Mike Wilson and Mayor Joe Thallemer. Wilson stated engineer plans and estimates have been given to City Engineer James Emans for review. He will get with Emans in April to finalize the plan. He stated in some areas the cost estimates were found to be inflated, such as the estimate for asphalt was based on Fort Wayne costs, not local costs. The review is to get the costs more relative to the county.
Thallemer stated after the “sticker shock,” there are two areas of the project: the capital cost to build the station and the second part is the programming of the building — bodies and equipment. “We’re looking at this long and hard on how to program it.”
During other business:
- Approved travel requests for firefighters to attend continuing education workshops, a trench validation course and officer training.
- Reviewed the fire apparatus inventory with notation being made research into replacing Squad 4, one of the busiest pieces of equipment in the county, will be undertaken. The 2008 Pierce cost $513,158 when purchased new. It is estimated a replacement will cost approximately $689,000.
- Wilson reported the fire department has moved its vehicle repairs to the street department garage, saving the city approximately $40,000 by not having it outsourced.
- Reviewed the department’s monthly report. Wilson reported there were 164 calls in February. Five of those calls were fire calls and 122 were rescue/medical assists. There were 35 businesses inspected and 809 training hours. The department is working hard with the school system with the constructions and all inspections have been completed. Additionally the occupancy inspection at Parkview has been completed.