Madison gets new pumper truck

09/04/2007

Abbe Smith , Register Staff

MADISON — A new firetruck worth about a half-million dollars is headed for Madison to replace a 30-year-old truck. The Board of Selectmen recently the bid for the truck to Pierce Manufacturing for $479,504, which includes additional driving-safety equipment. The selectmen also approved spending $10,000 to purchase radio equipment for the truck from a local vender.

Brian Koczak, deputy chief of North Madison Volunteer Fire Company, said it was time to replace the old pumper truck.

"It has reached the end of its life cycle," he said, adding that most fire trucks do not last 30 years. This particular truck had been the first one out of the garage responding to emergencies in recent years.

Koczak said fire officials expect the new firetruck to last about 20 to 25 years.

Included in the new truck’s total price is an electronic stability control system, which helps keep the truck stable as it makes sharp turns and avoid rollovers.

The new pumper truck will be part of North Madison’s fleet of four basic firefighting trucks for structure fires, two pumper trucks, and one tanker for water supply.

"It brings more technology and a safer vehicle for the riders," Koczak said. "It’s just a necessary change at this point."

The Board of Selectmen approved awarding the bid for the new truck at last week’s regular meeting.

Several selectmen questioned the fire department’s recommendation that the town enter into a prepayment plan with the manufacturer, which carries with it a discount of 6.25 percent of $13,053. The plan calls for half of the cost to be paid at the contract signing, and the other half minus the discount to be paid when the new truck is delivered, about eight months later.

Koczak responded to the selectmen’s concerns about the prepayment plan by assuring them that Pierce is a trustworthy company that has worked out well in the past for North Madison Volunteer Fire Company.

"They’ve been around for a long time," Koczak said.

The money for the truck is already in a reserve account called the North Madison Company Vehicle Fund. Finance Director Fillmore McPherson said Friday that account has about $591,000 in it, more than enough to cover the cost of the new truck.

Abbe Smith can be reached at asmith@nhregister.com or 789-5615.