An inspection by the Waterville Fire Department’s new maintenance company resulted in a 1994 tanker taken out of service.
At last week’s Waterville Village Board meeting, WFD Chief Jarrod Waufle said all the trucks went out for servicing.
He said the former company, which was changed because of service issues, missed a number of things during maintenance inspections.
The new company tagged the 1994 Freightliner as a safety hazard, deeming in unopenable.
Waufle said he called area departments that help out with mutual aid to alert them to Waterville’s lack of a truck.
Being down a truck means the department loses 1,000 gallons of water to transport to a fire, from 5,000 to 4,000 gallons.
In the village this won’t be a problem because of hydrants, Waufle said. But outside the village water needs to be brought to a fire scene.
Mayor Gene Ostrander said the towns of Marshall and Sangerfield need to be brought into the conversation on how to replace the truck.
The two towns combine to pay 50 percent of the cost for the department.
Waufle said a used 2015 truck was on the market for $500,000, which is also close to the cost for ordering a new one.
A new truck, though, will require a longer waiting period to be put into service.
The meeting, which went almost two hours, included creating a new position for a part-time Codes Enforcement Officer trainee and a part-time auditor.
Money taken from the village’s Contingency accounts goes toward State Retirement costs, maintenance of Village Hall, dues, and a grant writer.
The meeting opened with a one-hour presentation and discussion by two people from Ready2RecoverCNY based in Manlius.
The non-profit, which is run solely by volunteers, helps adults addicted to opiates get longterm treatment.
Executive Director Colleen Buxton attended the ...