Council approves purchase of fire truck

Thursday, May 18, 2017

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A new fire truck is included in the 2018 capital improvement budget that the Nevada City Council approved when it passed the 2017 budget, and Wednesday night the council voted 4-0, with Blake Hertzberg excused, to pass on first reading a special ordinance accepting the $333,002 bid from Deep South Fire Apparatus, Seminary, Miss., for a 2018 four door Freightliner Engine to replace the city’s 22-year-old truck, which has 83,862 current miles and 7,061 hours on the motor.

Nevada Fire Chief William Thornton said the city purchased the current truck in 1995 for $175,000.

The current truck has a 1,000 gallon water tank with a 40 gallon foam tank, the new truck will have a 1,470 gallon water tank and a 40 gallon foam tank.

“Twenty years is a good life for a fire truck,” Thornton said.

In other business the council:

• Voted 4-0, to accept the $19,500 bid from DWD Construction LLC, Butler, to demolish the city’s old Public Safety Building, after questioning the difference in DWD’s bid and the other companies. The closest bid to DWD’s was $28,000. The work includes demolishing the building, removing the waste material, and cleaning, compacting and leveling of the site. City Manager JD Kehrman told the council the city staff also had questions about the difference in the cost, and confirmed that DWD Construction was confident of their bid. “I don’t see any reason at this point not to accept the bid,” Kehrman said. The demolition work will begin after the mural in the city council chamber is removed. Kehrman told the council the expert on the mural was here on Monday and he is waiting to hear the recommendation on how to proceed with removal of the mural.

• Voted 4-0, to give preliminary approval to a memorandum of understanding between the city of Nevada and Joplin Regional Partnership for economic and workforce development services and support. Kehrman told the council that the memorandum of understanding quotes the cost to the city as $9,960, the final cost is a little unclear, since there may be additional partners. He said Vernon County is considering participating and KCP&L has expressed some interest in participating.

• Voted 4-0, to give final approval to an agreement with Kansas City Power & Light for the city to help lower peak electric demand by switching to backup generators to power six city buildings, at the request of KCP&L. In return the city would receive an annual participation payment of $27,072.50, plus curtailment payments for each event.

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