March 5, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
Time for a new city fire truck?
Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker said the City of Smithville should be making a commitment now to purchase a new fire engine to replace the oldest truck in the fleet, a 2001 model (Engine 2).
He made his request during Monday night’s workshop of the mayor and aldermen.
Chief Parker is asking that the city purchase a Pierce Custom Enforcer PUC Pumper currently priced at $1,248,449 with a prepayment discount of $130, 143 making the city’s actual cost $1,118,305. Delivery of the new fire truck would be within 37-38 months of order date. The cost would be only for the truck itself, and not the hoses and other apparatus to equip it.
Along with the factors of safety, liability, and reliability, Chief Parker said part of the reason for keeping city fire department equipment and apparatus up to date is to maintain a good Insurance Service Organization (ISO) rating so that residents and businesses are able to take advantage of lower insurance premiums.
“My purpose here tonight is to convince you to buy a truck. Engine 2 which is a 2001 model came off of first line service in 2016 and in 2021 it was a 20-year-old truck that reverted to reserve status and as of next year it will be considered an antique,” said Chief Parker. “When I think about an antique fire apparatus I think about a shiny truck in a parade or its in a museum. I don’t think about an antique fire truck being a first line apparatus that is protecting our citizens of Smithville. Its also an antique truck that my firefighters have to ride in and that also concerns me,” Chief Parker continued.
“Since this truck was manufactured in 2001 the fire truck manufacturers association which sets the standard on fire apparatus has identified 65 changes on that engine including safety changes, emission changes, and other things from cab protection to seatbelts and airbags. That’s 65 changes in 25 years. If it were one or two it wouldn’t be a big deal but with that many changes it could be a big safety concern,” said Chief Parker. “In my opinion its time for it to be replaced. ISO states that you should have a first line apparatus within 15 years of service. Anything else can be a reserve up to 25 years but then it is considered an antique. We have our trucks on a cycle so that when one starts going out we start looking at the next one so that we don’t end up buying them all at once. We could keep this one (2001 model) as an older reserve truck but we have to decide is having this truck as a reserve more important than the $30,000 we would get out of it. We would still have to house it, maintain it, and test it but at what point does it get to be more expensive for us if we don’t need it for a reserve,” said Chief Parker.
In addition to the 2001 fire truck, the Smithville Fire Department has in its fleet a 2018 rescue pumper and a 2012 ladder truck.
Monday night’s workshop was only a preliminary discussion. The mayor and aldermen have not yet begun budget planning for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Should the city later vote to purchase a new fire truck, the mayor and aldermen would have to decide whether the city should write a check for the full amount to save interest payments or finance it over a three-, five-, or seven-year period with interest.
Mayor Josh Miller said either way the city would not have to raise property taxes to pay for it but he warned that the city must keep an eye on spending going forward with other needs the city has upcoming including the purchase of an expensive new garbage truck.
“We spent a lot of money last year. I am not for raising taxes right now. I can’t say I am against the fire truck by any means, but I will tell you this. It’s one item (fire truck). We also have to have a garbage truck. That’s about $250,000 and it can’t wait. Man, I’m telling you there is fixing to come a time when we are going to have to pump the brakes (spending). The brakes are going to have to be pumped. I’m not against. I’m just telling you the big picture,” said Mayor Miller.