New chief: Ordering pumper in 2022 saved city $200,000

Timing, as the pundits say, is everything. And that couldn’t be more correct than in the latest fire truck purchase by the City of Greencastle.

A new pumper truck, approved by the Board of Works in October 2022 for purchase at the not-to-exceed price of $735,979 from Sutphen Corp. in Ohio, would cost considerably more if purchased today, new Fire Chief Rob Frank told the board Wednesday afternoon.

The truck “probably would have cost the city $200,000 more if it was ordered now,” Frank said, noting that the pumper isn’t expected to be ready for delivery to the Greencastle Fire Department until summer 2025.

The current price, while less than the original $750,000 estimate, was higher than pre-Covid pricing, former Chief John Burgess noted at the time of purchase approval.

“Two years ago, pre-Covid, the price was lower,” Burgess said, noting that the previous pumper purchased by the department in February 2020 cost $648,000.

The pumper was in the news Wednesday as the Board of Works was asked to authorize a change order for “some small stuff” on the apparatus. Frank explained that about $5,000 is usually built into the price for change orders.

The majority of the changes involve upgrading the emergency lighting and scene lighting, Chief Frank said. A GFD committee, which now includes firefighter and lighting expert Johnny Newgent, recommended the changes.

“With the upgrades that we made, it will make the engine more visible when responding to emergencies and will provide better lighting for firefighters working on emergency scene,” Frank told the Banner Graphic. “The upgrades will make the engine safer for our firefighters while responding and make them more efficient when operating in low visibility.”

The new pumper, which comes with a heavy-duty chassis, will replace a 2001 Pierce fire engine.

Frank also noted that there will be a color-scheme change with the new pumper being smoke gray over red instead of white over red.

“We originally wanted to do it before but we couldn’t,” Frank said, noting the subtle difference will “help promote change in the fire department.”

Mayor Lynda Dunbar, who is joined by holdovers Trudy Selvia and Thom Morris on the Board of Works, characterized the new coloring as “probably a more modern look.”

Selvia made the motion to approve the change order, which passed unanimously, encouraging Frank to come back with other changes as need, noting “you all will be stuck with this for a while.”

Meanwhile, the board also approved a recommendation to increase the rate of septage charges paid by septic waste haulers at the wastewater treatment plant from seven cents per gallon to 10 cents per gallon.

The City Council will need to approve the rate change recommendation via Ordinance 2024-1.

City Attorney Laurie Hardwick noted that there has not been an increase in septage charges since 2010.

Morris, stressing that septage charges have little to do with the average homeowner other than those who need their septic system pumped out, said, “Three cents doesn’t seem like a whole lot.”

Responding, Wastewater Supt. Oscar King Jr. said private septage haulers usually deposit 3,000 gallons per visit to the plant. The three-cent increase would amount to an additional $90 per load.

King told the Banner Graphic that companies haul in septage from cleaning out port-a-lets as well as pumping out septic systems. He said septage is accepted from adjacent counties as well.

Mayor Dunbar said the city is willing to take in more septage, and while the rate is recommended to raise to 10 cents per gallon now, it could go to 20 cents later.

In other business, the board:

• Approved an $884.14 sewer leak adjustment for Sue Ann Watjen, 246 Hillsdale Ave., Apt. 1. A leaky stool has subsequently been repaired by Opportunity Housing, Deputy Clerk Melanie Welker reported. Watjen will still be responsible for the water portion of the bill.

• Authorized emergency repairs for properties at 1214 Bloomington St., 713 Highridge Ave. and 450 Rockville Rd.

• Approved monthly claims for the water and wastewater departments totaling, respectively, $607,510 and $79,002. It was explained that the “crazy high” water claims, as noted by Selvia, were basically the result of the final payment to Miller Pipeline for the Albin Pond Road project.

• Welcomed new Clerk-Treasurer Mikayla Johnson, attending her first Board of Works meeting.

The board is next scheduled to meet at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21 at City Hall.