Blais said that he asked the former chief mechanic of the Albany Fire Department to inspect the village’s existing aerial truck — and he also talked with representatives of the repair facility — Stewart & Stevenson of Latham. 

They all told Blais that the truck’s diesel engine merely blew a seal and should be repaired, rather than replacing the motor or purchasing a new truck at this point, the mayor said.

The former Albany Fire Department mechanic praised the truck’s condition, Blais told the village board.

“He said our truck is in excellent condition, adding that after the motor is repaired, it will be as good as any fire truck that Albany now owns,” Blais said.

The mechanic scrutinized the extensive repairs that were made last year to the ladder turntable, one of the vehicle’s pumps, and  said the repair work was outstanding, Blais reported. He also said that he conferred with town board members, and they predicted that their board would likely defeat a purchase proposal, based on its impact on taxes and public opposition.

It's easily the largest business in Lyons. The plant sits on 22 acres in a town that besides an elevator across the street has no other businesses.

It all started as a two pump gas station. The owner had a plan

"Harold Boer, being a blacksmith, mechanic by trade, said he would build the first fire truck," Oyen said.

Boer did just that.

"The first one was built for Tea, SD in 1984. Since then we have grown gradually through the years. We merged with Rosenbauer out of Austria," Oyen said.

In the late 90's Rosenbauer was looking for a presence in North America, and since the merger, it's really taken off.

"Right now we are putting out between 8 and 10 [trucks] a week," Oyen said.

The truck was built in Utica and is one of several fire apparatus built by the O.J. Childs Co., according to a news release.

The truck visited the Oneida County History Center Thursday and will appear at several facilities throughout the area. Several binders of historical pictures, advertisements, stock certificates and owners’ manuals also will be available to view.

“They’re going to try to get the truck on the road as soon as we leave,” Hutchison said. “When it gets here, it won’t have all the stuff on it. We will still have to go through a lot of training, but it will be here I’m hoping at the end of June.”

Howard told the panel about some of the extra equipment Hutchison had requested be installed on the truck.

“One of the extras is a larger water line going up the ladder itself,” Howard said. “The reason for that is the high rise and the hospital. We hope they never need it, but Chief Hutchison had asked for that.”