Mayor Steve Noble has decided the city will buy a new ladder truck for the fire department that is expected to cost $50,000 more than what the borrowing amount authorized by the Common Council nearly three years ago.
At the same time, though, the cost of the truck will be about $197,000 less than the lowest price submitted to the city in November. That price, $1,146,716, was submitted by KME-Kovatch Organization, which will build the truck to the city's specifications.
In a written request to Common Council President James Noble, the mayor has asked lawmakers to authorize the extra $50,000 to purchase the tiller-type ladder truck to replace the current tiller truck, which dates to 1998 and breaks down often.
"The complexity of this decision is further compounded by the fact that as time has gone on, the price of the truck has steadily increased," the mayor said in the written request to the council president, his uncle. "It is based on this, as well as our [fire] department's need to replace the failing truck, that I believe we must act soon in order to secure the most appropriate truck at an achievable price."
The mayor said that throughout the process, he has consulted with city Fire Chief Mark Brown and members of the Kingston Professional Firefighters Association, which supported the purchase of the tiller truck. The truck requires drivers at both the front and rear; a straight truck is driven only from the front.
The union has said the tiller truck has better maneuverability on city streets, especially around snowbanks in the winter.
The council three years ago authorized borrowing $900,000 to buy a new ladder truck, but Noble said that "based on the rising prices of this equipment, regardless of truck type or manufacturer, I must respectfully request an additional $50,000 so that we may finalize this purchase. Based on the research we have done, I believe this additional $50,000 will be necessary for any ladder truck we select."
Within the next two weeks, Noble and Brown will go to Lancaster, Pa., to conduct a visual inspection a ladder truck like the one that will be built for Kingston.