LOIT plan prompts discussion of aerial truck replacement, AED additions

Examination of a draft proposal of the City of Greencastle Public Safety LOIT (Local Option Income Tax) plan produced some interesting City Council discussion, from replacing the aerial fire truck to equipping police cars with AEDs (automated external defibrillators).

All in the name of funding public safety expenses.

“Consider this a working document,” Mayor Bill Dory told the City Council during its April meeting.

Poised to receive an estimated $550,000 a year through LOIT for each of the next 10 years, the city received an actual $537,528 for 2016.

Expenses proposed for the first year (2017) include $56,811 for purchase of new police vehicles, $187,000 for new airpacks for the fire department, $120,000 for replacing 20 fire department 800 mhz radios, $150,000 for replacing 800 mhz police radios and more.

Police Chief Tom Sutherlin explained that the 800 mhz radios still operate but it is impossible to get repair parts for them, thus making replacement necessary.

The biggest expense on the long-term LOIT plan spreadsheet is a proposed $1.5 million cost in year five for replacing the 30-year-old aerial truck that has undergone major repairs in recent years.

The city is applying for a $990,000 grant to help fund a new tower truck, Mayor Dory noted, but there are no assurances that will be received, and even if it is, it will not fund the truck replacement entirely.

City Council President Adam Cohen reminded the group that the aerial truck has been used in other communities besides Greencastle and on the DePauw University campus. Fire Chief John Burgess recounted its use in Cloverdale, Bainbridge, Roachdale, Brazil and Crawfordsville as well as in town and at DePauw.

“It’s something that’s just not a benefit to the City of Greencastle,” Cohen said, suggesting that it might be time that others benefiting from it “step up to the plate (and contribute funds), even if it’s just a small amount.”

Calling the Greencastle Fire Department “the backbone of the countywide fire community,” Cohen added, “we’re providing a lot.”

Meanwhile, a public safety item not even included on the 10-year spreadsheet also sparked discussion.

Noting that GPD has only two of its 16 cars equipped with AED units, Chief Sutherlin said he would like to figure out a way to get more, be it through grants or the Putnam County Community Foundation or some other manner.

With the first four minutes of a heart attack being so vital to survival and recovery, the chief would like to equip as many of the GPD cars as possible with an AED.

Council President Cohen urged Sutherlin to check out the cost of providing at least one AED device is available on each shift.

No official action was taken on the AED issue or the “working document” LOIT plan for now.