Novi City Council approved the purchase of a $1.5 million ladder truck from Sutphen Corporation. The city's current ladder truck, a 2001 American LaFrance, has over 46,000 miles and 4,700 hours in service.   

Jeff Johnson, the city's director of emergency medical services and fire operations, said American LaFrance no longer manufactures fire trucks, making it very difficult to find, and expensive to buy, replacement parts.

Wes Hubbard, an Ames firefighter and Nevada resident who was instrumental in the organization of Story County Responders Care, said volunteers for the group have dwindled, and he can’t support a community-driven message alone for home visits and community appearances. In addition, there aren’t enough funds coming in to help insure and fuel the vehicle.

Hubbard and two local women first formed a committee in April of 2014 to start a Story County-wide effort, modeled after “Ames Firefighters Care Enough to Wear Pink.”

They’d been able to purchase the 1963 Ford fire truck for just $1 from the Huxley Firefighters.

By June of 2014, the group reported they had a dedicated volunteer group to help give the truck some mechanical repairs and a new coat of pink paint. They’d also come up with the group’s official name, Story County Responders Care, and were looking forward to their first big celebration on June 21 and another appearance at Crossroads Tavern in Kelley on July 12.