Task Force Tips invested $2.6 million to renovate a 50,000-square-foot facility at 4201 Montdale Park Drive in the Montdale Business Park in Valparaiso, which will serve as the new home for its direct subsidiary AMKUS Rescue Tools. Located less than one mile from Task Force Tips’ 168,000-square-foot facility, both companies will improve their research and development activities by operating in close proximity and will provide higher-quality products to emergency responders worldwide.

AMKUS Rescue Tools completed its relocation just last month and now bases all of its operations in Indiana. While AMKUS Rescue Systems will maintain its own unique identity, distribution network, field managers and marketing message, it will share Task Force Tips’ extensive research, development and new product innovation resources. With their growth, both companies share a commitment to providing world-class service and support to emergency service professionals around the globe.

Task Force Tips currently employs 225 Indiana employees, which now includes 10 team members previously based at AMKUS Rescue Tools' facility in Illinois. To reach its goal of creating 20 new Indiana-based jobs, AMKUS will add an additional 10 jobs and is currently hiring for production, assembly and shipping positions. These positions are expected on average to pay 25 percent more than the state average wage. Interested applicants may search for open opportunities at www.tft.com.

The $465,759 fire truck was open for a tour and pictures at the trustees’ meeting, but was then heading to Cleveland to be outfitted with equipment, said Fire Chief Bruce Moritz. The truck should be in service at Station 1 in Walbridge later this month.

Some new features include Class A foam capabilities, an air priming system and storage for helmets. It also carries 1,500 gallons of water, compared to 1,000 gallons of water for the old truck. “We have got more water on it, for the rural end,” Moritz said.

Capt. Chad Klavinger said the truck has a tight turn radius. It’s able to do a figure 8 in the small Walbridge fire station parking lot.

The trustees voted in September to buy the All American fire truck from Sutphen Fire Truck Manufacturer. It replaces a 20-year-old engine.

Moritz said that truck will still be used for large fires and as backup.

East Alton Fire Chief Rodney Palmer said 20 years is generally a full life of any fire apparatus. Currently the fire department has a two-vehicle response system, a pumper truck and a rescue truck. The new pumper would condense the two vehicles in to one.

Chief Palmer told the Big Z that condensing down to one truck will be safer and cheaper.

A fire department committee began putting together bid specifications in 2007 before the Great Recession. The city spent $420,000 last year to buy the 2008 Pierce Quantum 105-foot aerial ladder truck. Northern Illinois University contributed $275,000 as part of its fire service agreement with the city.

Fire officials spent more than a year searching for a used truck before finding a suitable one in Florida. The new truck replaces a 1990 Grumman aerial ladder truck, nicknamed “Big John."

"The fire department ladder truck is one of the most identifiable vehicles in the city's fleet," Fire Chief Eric Hicks said. "It's at every fire in the city. ... The truck also represents us at community functions and parades. Most of the kids who grew up in DeKalb know who Big John is, since he's been serving the community for over 25 years. We hope 'Rip' Roaring has the same effect."