Sheffield Lake Finance Director Tamara Smith suggested that after paying down the existing note by $275,000, the city should add approximately $115,000 in new financing to the rolled-over note to refurbish the fire department’s backup fire engine, along with approximately $68,000 to purchase the service department’s skid-steer machine.
"Fire Chief Tim Card has obtained an estimate of $113,000 to refurbish engine 63, our 1996 fire engine, from a reputable company that we've used for repairs recently and that he knows well and trusts," Smith said. The firefighters say they prefer the older fire engine, saying it is better built than the newer fire engine the city obtained with grant money. The process would include refurbishment of the 21-year-old fire engine's pumps and repainting.
'The 21-year-old truck is simpler to use, and the repairs it needs are new brakes, replacement of hoses and other internal plastic parts," SLFD Lt. Brian Davis said Tuesday. "They'd overhaul the engine, which was built to go a million miles, replace all the leaky hoses and valves, and repaint it in about six weeks. When it comes back, it would be as if we have two new fire engines. Replacing Engine 63 with a new pumper truck would cost the city at least $400,000-$500,000. This would save the city a lot of money, and we could go another 21 years before we need to do anything again."