The Journal News' Tax Watch reported that the borrowing plan would have cost taxpayers some $900,000 a year for 26 years, and raised spending by 70 percent in the New Castle Fire District.

The fire district, which has separate taxing authority from the town and the school district, would have seen its annual budget go from $1.3 million to $2.2 million, driving property taxes up, to account for the project’s expense.

 It plans to list the shares of common stock on one of the stock exchanges under the symbol REVG.

Rev Group plans to use most of the proceeds of the offering to pay down debt, as well as for general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures, working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Tim Sullivan, former chief executive officer of South Milwaukee-based Bucyrus International Inc., moved Rev Group’s headquarters from Orlando, Florida to Milwaukee earlier this year.

REV Group, formerly known as Allied Specialty Vehicles, manufactures specialty vehicles such as ambulances and shuttles at 15 locations, many of which are in the Midwest. 

"Some of our members can't enter structures to fight interior fires because of their outdated gear," said Fire Chief William Hall. "This grant will greatly help our members provide the best possible service to the community."

Georgia-Pacific awarded $170,000 in grants to fire departments this year. Officials say it's also the 10th anniversary of the Bucket Brigade. Over the years, Georgia-Pacific has given more than $2 million in cash and educational materials to fire departments across the country.

"Over the 10 years of our Bucket Brigade program, I'm proud that we've awarded 335 grants, representing more than 270 fire departments in our facility communities," said Jim Hannan, chief executive officer and president of Georgia-Pacific. "Our goal since the program began has been to help first responders have the equipment they need to better protect themselves, and help keep our communities safe."

Officials say grants ranged from $2,500 to $10,000 this year. They say grands are need based and are funded by Georgia-Pacific Foundation and local Georgia-Pacific facilities. Georgia-Pacific gives all grant applicants free memberships to The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), which provides access to tools, resources, programs and advocacy for first responders across the nation.

It is a 2016 KME mounted on a Ford F-550 chassis with a Ford 6.7 light power stroke diesel engine and a 1,250-gallons per minute midship Hale fire pump. It holds 300 gallons of water and 10 gallons of class A foam.

The fire department took possession of the vehicle in late September.

Known as vehicle 720, the mini-pumper will do everything a larger pumper will do, Olthof said. “It’s set up for quick attack.”

The vehicle is set up with LED lights, which don’t need a generator to run them. It also has regulators on the controls so you don’t have to use up manpower monitoring the controls, the chief said.

“That’s important with less help available during the day,” Olthof said.

The mini-pumper backs up the department’s medical vehicle, has a foam system and is also set up for grass fires.

Olthof said the smaller vehicle is also easier to maneuver around narrower roads such as in areas along the North Shore.

Ferrysburg also replaced a 20-year-old first responder medical unit, a Suburban, last March.