Redkey needs new firetruck

REDKEY — The fire department needs a new firetruck.

Redkey Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Mark Leavell shared options Tuesday with two Redkey Town Council members.

The board didn’t have a quorum for its scheduled meeting and therefore wasn’t able to take any action.

Leavell explained the fire department’s back-up “pumper” (firetruck) is more than 44 years old. The 1981 truck barely passed the annual state-mandated pump test last year, Leavell said, with black smoke billowing out of the engine.

“The gentleman that did the pump test said that he was very hesitant to do the pump test even next year because he was afraid that we would do some major damage to the engine of the truck,” explained Leavell.

He noted it’s not the pump but the engine that’s the problem. The town’s next inspection is slated for September or October.

Potential solutions could include purchasing a new truck or replacing the engine. Leavell explained a used 10- to 15-year-old firetruck ranges between $175,000 to $200,000. Used trucks around 20 to 25 years old cost between $100,000 and $125,000. Used firetrucks around 30 years old cost between $50,000 and $75,000.

Leavell cautioned against a 30-year-old truck, noting the department’s other firetruck is a 1996 model. He pointed out both trucks would need to be replaced around the same time in the future.

Another option would be to replace the engine in the 1981 truck, although Leavell cautioned it would cost $30,000 to $35,000.

“The problem is, if you put that much money into that old of a truck, there’s other things that are going to go wrong with that truck down the road,” he said.

Leavell suggested council look into pulling from its cumulative capital improvement fund, which he said has $141,000 available. He also referenced loan terms for municipalities through Indiana Bond Bank and potential state grants.

Leavell pointed out used firetrucks tend to sell quickly. He asked council to think about its preferred choice. He asked council to authorize the fire department to make a purchase in order to replace the 1981 truck, recommending council allot up to $125,000. 

Relatedly, Leavell noted all of the department’s current vehicles are more than 20 years old, with most approaching 30. He suggested creating a plan for how to pay for replacing vehicles in the future.

Also, council member Gavin Grady has resigned. He submitted a formal to Jay County Clerk’s Office Feb. 14, effective immediately. Grady didn’t respond to The Commercial Review for comment before press time. Jay County Republican Party chairman Jenae Blasdel will need to find a replacement for the open seat, which was originally occupied by former council member Chance Retter before he resigned last year.

Town marshal Jon Cave is also no longer working for Redkey. Cave recently started as an officer for Portland Police Department.

In other business, council members “Watermellon” Jim Phillips and Brenda Beaty, absent Floyd Life and Dave Dudelston:

•Discussed graffiti issues. Beaty noted recent vandalism at the park and the water tower, despite the latter having fencing around it. Beaty pointed out it would cost $150,000 to repaint the tower. She also suggested looking into how to make the tower less open to vandals, noting the liabilities involved in an accident.

•Heard plans from utility worker Ted Kolodka to update the town’s snow plowing policy, which allows the town to plow roads after a certain amount of snow. Kolodka would like to adjust the threshold, which currently requires 4 inches or more of snow, down to 3 inches or more of snow. He said other surrounding communities usually plow after 3 inches or more.

•Learned Second Harvest Food Bank will be hosting monthly tailgates in Redkey on the third Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at the park. (It previously hosted tailgates quarterly in town.) Plans are to host the next tailgate from 10 a.m. to noon March 19 at the park. Leavell noted portions of Mooney Street and Central Avenue may be congested with traffic during that time. He also pointed to the need for volunteers, saying he would like to put together a list of organizations to be involved.

•Met the county’s new community coordinator, Darlesia Lee.

•Heard a request from Leavell to wrap red LED lights around the light poles in downtown Redkey for decoration.

•Learned one of the doors — the door Redkey firefighters have a key for — at the former fire station has been barricaded after a suspected break-in. Board members shared plans to keep keys to town buildings at the clerk-treasurer’s office.

•Heard the clerk-treasurer’s office is looking to hire more part-time help.