By John Estridge
Liberty Volunteer Fire Department members believe they have found a good deal on a used tanker.
Liberty Town Council President Matt Barnhizer, who is also an LVFD member, said the tanker has low miles and is at a good price. He talked about the tanker at the LTC’s Monday, December 7 meeting held in the LVFD firehouse due to social distancing concerns.
However, this is a bad time of the year to need that type of funding from a governmental entity. December is when the 2020 funds are closed. Additional appropriations must be made early in the month due to that reason and state schedules for approving the additional appropriations.
Liberty Clerk/Treasurer Melissa Shepler said it may be February 2021 before funding for the truck could be put in place due to the closing of the 2020 budget, the opening of the 2021 budget, finding if the necessary funding can be put in place and getting state approval for an additional appropriation of that magnitude.
LTC did not appropriate money for a tanker in the 2020 or 2021 budgets. Anything not appropriated in a budget like that needs an additional appropriation in order spend the money.
Barnhizer and LTC member Ross Keasling, who is also a LVFD member, said this new tanker will be used by the township fire department. The other two tankers are old, have high mileage with one being a former honey dipper. Because of that they do not know how corroded the tank is. Barnhizer said many of the members expect to see the floor covered with water each day they come into the firehouse, meaning the bottom of the tank has been corroded into disuse. It is also a single axle truck, Barnhizer said.
Also, it is harder and harder for small volunteer fire departments to answer tones during the day. While the other area volunteer fire departments have been good about giving assistance for structure fires, especially with tankers, it is a concern if they can answer the tone with a tanker let alone the manpower needed to man it.
Keasling said the other two tankers were purchased with fundraisers with the volunteer firefighters doing much of the necessary work on them.
However, with the timing of this find, the fire department will have to wait and hope the tanker is still available when funding becomes available.
Barnhizer asked about the fire department putting down some money now in order to secure the tanker while waiting for rest of the funding in a couple of months. Shepler cautioned against that action due to the unknowns involved with the funding. She suggested everyone wait until real budgetary numbers can be ascertained.
