Here's why Quincy Fire paid $1.2 million for a new fire truck to be delivered in 2028
QUINCY — This week, the Quincy Fire Association sent its $378,999 check with an insurance voucher for $668,000 to order a new pumper tanker from Pierce Manufacturing.
But Pierce will not deliver the $1.2 million fire truck until 2028.
Quincy Fire Chief Mike Sherman answered questions about the purchase to replace an older used truck which had its electrical system burned at a fire in April 2022.
Why won't the truck be delivered until 2028?
"There are about 3,700 orders ahead of us from Pierce Manufacturing, in Appleton, Wisconsin. The company is owned by Oshkosh Corporation. Pierce is currently one of the largest fire apparatus companies in the U.S."
Why pay the total price now?
"The upfront price of $1.271 million came with a $155,567 discount, which locks in the price. We don't know what the cost will be in four years...The last truck we purchased new in 2019 also was from Pierce, the only bidder. That cost $712,000."
Why is this new replacement truck needed?
"The 2,500-gallon pumper/tanker is for the rural area, capable of doing frontline fire suppression as well as carrying water when needed. The last truck only has 750 gallons of water on board. It's a structural firefighting truck as well, but it carries all the specialized rescue gear, the Jaws of Life and ice rescue gear, specialized gear. That truck is the main response truck in Quincy."
Why is Quincy Fire purchasing a new trucks?
A 2018 study by consultants Emergency Vehicle Response told the Quincy Fire Association buying used equipment "was only purchasing someone else's problems."
When will Quincy Fire need another truck?
"The department is scheduled to replace another truck in 2029-30."
More about the fire association
The Quincy Fire Association consists of the village of Quincy, Quincy Township, and Algansee Township.
The new truck purchase was only possible because Sherman insured the damaged truck for the full value of $668,600.
Quincy Township and the village of Quincy used $231,374 from its joint fire millage fund.
Quincy voters approved 1.25 mills for 10 years in 2017 to pay for fire services. Algansee voters rejected a half-mill levy in the same 2017 election.
Algansee paid $147,625 from ARPA funds and its general fund budget.
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Algansee Township Supervisor Russ Jennings said voters would need to approve a millage for the township to afford the next truck.
Quincy voters must decide on a new millage in 2026 before purchasing the next truck.
---Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Quincy paid $1.2 million upfront for 2028 delivery of a new fire truck
