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TRUMAN-- The Truman City Council on Monday heard from Truman Fire Chief, Dave Bentz, who spoke about a recent meeting the department had with area townships and several members of the city council. At the meeting they discussed getting a new rescue truck.
While the truck will be used, it will likely carry a price tag of about $250,000. There is some money in the truck fund but not enough to cover the entire cost. The new truck will replace Rescue #2, which is a 1991 truck.
Bentz told the council that Westford and Waverly townships, which were present at the meeting, were supportive of the idea, but would like a proposal on how the truck will be paid for.
"Didn't they want to break it down.. and figure out a plan to pay by section?" asked Council Member Chris Mosloski.
It was said that there are 79 sections in Truman's service area.
City Clerk Melissa Sirovy said that she found information on the last two trucks purchased and shared that the truck reserves were used and that the relief association put in some money and the rest was split.
Council Member Brian Nickerson pointed out that once the truck is purchased, Truman houses and maintains it. He said at one time trucks were purchased without seeking funds from the townships.
"Back in 2005 when we started the truck fund, it was nice so that we didn't have to come up with 100 percent of the funds, but it was never designed to fully fund everything," Bentz said.
The council spoke about different scenarios to consider and said that it would be nice to have a way to split the cost which would be most fair, but acknowledged that no such formula exists.
"I don't see how the council can say what to do tonight but we need to take it all into consideration," said Nickerson.
Bentz said he would check in with Nashville Township, which did not have a representative present for last week's meeting. He then suggested the council gets a proposal emailed out before the township's annual meeting in March. The council said it will discuss the matter at its second meeting this month and the department will plan to have another representative at that meeting to discuss it further.
Moving to other matters, Utility Foreman, Brent Brown, brought several utility matters to the council.
Brown said he looked into replacing the lights at city hall and that a grant has been applied for, which would make the city's portion just $500.
"It would be the same lights we have in the office downtown," Brown said.
The council approved moving forward with getting new lights.
Brown also spoke about the need to clarify the water service policy. He said as of late they have had some questions about service lines that need to be repaired.
"We've had a policy in place since 2009, but it wasn't really on paper," Brown said.
Essentially, he said the city is responsible from the water main to the curb stop and that residents have the curb stop to the house. Brown said they are working on updating a policy book to have available for councilors and at city hall.
Finally, Brown shared some information regarding utility expenses in municipal buildings.
"The baseball field lights have been a question in the past. The two electric meters for the baseball field and one water meter and sewer, those are paid by the city," Brown said.
He said the electric meter annually is $1,700 and that the water, which is for the summer months, is $1,300.
It was confirmed that the baseball association reimburses the city for labor only.
Brown also shared that for the fire hall/city hall the monthly average for utilities is $1,017 and the average for gas is $725. He said it is split between the ambulance, library, street department, police department and city.
In other news, the council:
-- Approved the advertising of sealed bids for the construction of 30,525 sq. yards of bituminous seal coating.