Council has approved Asphodel Fire Trucks Ltd. $427,000 tender for a new pumper rescue truck for the Erin Fire Department, but not without concern over the cost.
In the 2015 and 2016 budget, council approved $521,000 plus HST for the purchase of the new vehicle. Fire Chief Dan Callaghan said of the 13 manufacturers contacted for pricing, he received five back.
Callaghan said because of the low price of Asphodel, he visited its facility in Norwood.
“They appeared to make a very good product, slightly different than some of the manufacturers, but very close to exactly what we were looking for,” he said.
The truck is a dual-purpose pumper/rescue vehicle, which replaced a 1985 500-gallon tank pumper, and will be place at Erin Station 10.
While coming in under budget by almost $100,000, council was still hesitant about the purchase.
Councillor Matt Sammut asked if any other municipalities owned Asphodel-made trucks. Callaghan said many do and he spoke to those fire departments.
Councillor John Brennan asked if it would be cheaper to purchase a used vehicle that is still within its 20-year life.
“It seems… our members are getting a lot more involved in things other than fighting fires,” he said.
“Does it make sense to try and look at perhaps buying a used one that still has some life within the 20 years and hopefully saving some money and taking that money and putting it into other aspects of the medical assist and the rest of the things the fire department is doing?”
Callaghan said he did inquire about used trucks with other fire chiefs and found that most would not buy used. He explained that Puslinch and Minto fire departments both bought used, however those were aerial trucks, not pumpers.
“Usually with pumpers and pumper/rescues, they’re used a lot and there’s a lot of demand on them,” he said.
“You start incurring huge expense bills to repair them and the components are well worn.”
Callaghan added that the town does not have mechanics on staff, so repairs are costly.
Councillor Jeff Duncan asked if this would be replacing the secondary pumper, would it be “desperately missed?”
Callaghan said every year the fire department undertakes pumper testing to ensure they perform to certain standards.
“This year the other pumper at Erin, so both pumpers at Erin no longer pass the testing that is required by the company,” he said.
“There’s no one here that wouldn’t want you to be fully equipped, but we’re working with a very strict budget,” said Sammut.
However, Mayor Allan Alls said he wanted to look at more options in order to make their decision.
“I think you’re getting the idea Chief that at this stage this council is a little concerned … because the $427,000 when you add all your stuff on, you’ll be up to the full budget,” said Alls.
He then raised a motion, asking Callaghan to come back with a report on used options available.
However, CAO Derek McCaughan said that report would take time and the town would most likely lose the tender.
Brennan said while he has reservations about the cost, the tender numbers are public now, which may cause increases if the town were to retender.
Sammut added that he struggles to make a decision without “proper metrics” such as used equipment pricing options and how often the trucks are used.
He questioned whether Erin needed four pumper trucks.
“That’s got to be a fair amount,” he said.
“We’re becoming just taking care of heart attacks and medics more than anything.”
Sammut asked if the fire department would have more buying power if they bought trucks with other fire departments.
Callaghan admitted he looks at trucks with other departments but said wants and needs vary.
“We do look at trucks together but you can well imagine I’m trying to buy a truck and bring it forward to council and it’s delayed and delayed. Other departments don’t necessarily have the same problems or as they’re trying to work through it, we’re all working at different paces,” he said.
“I think you sense the unease,” said Alls.
“It’s a lot of money and I know what you’re saying, we keep putting of these decisions but it behooves this council to make sure that we are making the right decisions.”
Council voted 3-1, defeating the motion to look for used vehicles. Duncan voted in favour and councillor Rob Smith was absent.
Council then awarded the tender to Asphodel for $427,392 including HST and passed a resolution asking staff to include used options for future tenders.
