By John Estridge
Representatives from the Liberty Volunteer Fire Department Tanker Committee visited their second government entity in less than five days.
Marc Ross and LVFD Chief Jim Barnhizer talked to the Union County Commissioners Friday morning, February 5. Ross also talked with the Liberty Town Council members on Monday, February 1.
LVFD wants a newer tanker. The present tanker, a former carrier of excrement, has a very iffy tank and the tank is too small, among other problems with the present tanker. Committee members have found good, used tankers but have not been able to purchase them because of all the red tape involved in purchasing a vehicle using government money. The tankers they want are sold before the local fire department can pull the trigger.
They want to buy a used tanker for around $75,000, but a new tanker could run as high as $375,000, Ross said. The fire department wants to purchase a new pumper in the near future so it does not want to spend a lot of money on the tanker.
Ross and Barnhizer were talking to the commissioners about getting an Interlocal Agreement between Liberty and Union County.
According to Ross, part of the funding for a new tanker could come from revenue derived from Local Option Income Tax (LOIT). LOIT revenue is used for any expenses related to emergency services.
However, Ross said the LVFD cannot use the town’s LOIT money because the tanker is a township truck. Of all the department’s trucks, the ladder truck is the only one that belongs to the town. The rest are township trucks, the men said.
That means the LVFD could use the county LOIT to help fund the tanker. Ross said he was told there had to be an Interlocal Agreement in place before that could take place. At the Liberty Town Council meeting, Ross and the committee were told the Interlocal Agreement had to be in place to stipulate the maintenance and repairs for the tanker will be funded by the township trustees.
Commissioner Paul Wiwi said he thought an Interlocal Agreement on the matter would be a good idea, and commissioner Tim Williams agreed.
“We have to work together all we can,” Williams, who is also a LVFD firefighter, said.
After a unanimous vote on a motion to get started on the local agreement, Williams said he would call up his brother, Jim Williams, who is the county’s attorney, to have him draft an Interlocal Agreement for that purpose.
