MONROE - To keep fire insurance rates in the city from going up by 14 percent and to postpone the expense of purchasing a new ladder truck, the current 1990 ladder truck will get a refurbishing.
The City of Monroe Finance and Taxation Committee authorized Fire Chief Daryl Rausch to spend up to $125,000 to get the truck back to firefighting specifications. Rausch had set aside the money in his 2013 budget.
Rausch estimated the refurbishing, which will include the outrigger, cables and electrical systems, will extend the life of the vehicle by 10 years. All the original equipment will be inspected and replaced as needed. The $125,000 would cover the worst case scenario, he added.
About $70,000 has already been spent in the past four years to keep the truck in working order, but it has become more unreliable, even to the point of breaking down at the scene of a fire, Rausch said. Last year the truck racked up 194 days of repairs.
The city must have a ladder truck to maintain its solid Class 3 rating for fire insurances. Without the truck, the classification drops to a class 5, which would increases people's fire insurance rates by 14 percent, Rausch said. A new ladder truck costs about $900,000, he added.
The city cannot go more than 90 days without a ladder truck and still maintain its Class 3 rating.
So, starting in January, the truck will be sent out for a 60-day refurbishing. During that time, Brodhead Fire Department will be dispatched to provide a ladder truck at any structure fire, Rausch said.
The Monroe Fire Department is also a part of MABAS, a mutual aid response system in which members share equipment and personnel as backup.
The City of Monroe Finance and Taxation Committee authorized Fire Chief Daryl Rausch to spend up to $125,000 to get the truck back to firefighting specifications. Rausch had set aside the money in his 2013 budget.
Rausch estimated the refurbishing, which will include the outrigger, cables and electrical systems, will extend the life of the vehicle by 10 years. All the original equipment will be inspected and replaced as needed. The $125,000 would cover the worst case scenario, he added.
About $70,000 has already been spent in the past four years to keep the truck in working order, but it has become more unreliable, even to the point of breaking down at the scene of a fire, Rausch said. Last year the truck racked up 194 days of repairs.
The city must have a ladder truck to maintain its solid Class 3 rating for fire insurances. Without the truck, the classification drops to a class 5, which would increases people's fire insurance rates by 14 percent, Rausch said. A new ladder truck costs about $900,000, he added.
The city cannot go more than 90 days without a ladder truck and still maintain its Class 3 rating.
So, starting in January, the truck will be sent out for a 60-day refurbishing. During that time, Brodhead Fire Department will be dispatched to provide a ladder truck at any structure fire, Rausch said.
The Monroe Fire Department is also a part of MABAS, a mutual aid response system in which members share equipment and personnel as backup.