Search only accepts letters and numbers. Tuesday, August 16, 2016 11:43 AM The Indianola Fire truck the city of Decorah has agreed to purchase was on display at Decorah City Hall in July. (Photo by Sarah Strandberg) The city of Decorah, with contributions from Winneshiek County and Luther College, will be purchasing a used ladder truck from the city of Indianola.
At its meeting Monday night, the Decorah City Council unanimously approved buying the 2011 Rosenbauer 115-foot, “articulating platform” ladder truck for $900,000.
The truck has 28,000 miles and 1,500 hours of use; a similar new truck would cost about $1.5 million, according to Decorah Fire Chief Mike Ashbacher.
Monday morning, the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors voted to provide $145,000 in funding over the next four fiscal years for the new truck, and during Monday’s Council meeting, Luther President Paula Carlson pledged $120,000 from the college.
Ashbacher said the Fire Department appreciated the support from the city, county and college.
“We look forward to that piece of equipment,” he said.
City Manager Chad Bird said the city would be bonding for its $635,000 portion of the truck price and repaying the loan over four years. With an interest rate of 2 percent, the debt levy would be between 51 and 54 cents per $1,000 of taxable value.
The Indianola truck will replace the department’s 1999 LTI ladder truck that has been malfunctioning since 2004. The department will be trying to sell its truck and the proceeds will go toward the Indianola truck. Ashbacher said based on the research he’s done, the truck could be worth between $40,000 and $150,000.