TUPPER LAKE — The wheels are in motion for the Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

On Monday, May 19 TLVFD Chief Royce Cole presented a letter to the Tupper Lake Village Board from the department’s truck committee, which formed just over eight months ago to begin looking into replacing Unit 165. This comes ahead of a more comprehensive presentation by committee members expected at an upcoming village board meeting.

The TLVFD truck committee endorsed engaging with the manufacturer, Pierce, for a new full-size pumper engine at an estimated cost of $1,069,000. The apparatus slated for potential replacement is a 1995 pumper truck that was manufactured by Pierce. TLVFD bought the truck in used condition for $30,000 from the Peru Volunteer Fire Department in November 2015.

The village board did not take any binding action at its meeting on May 19, and did not express any follow-up questions then. The letter was meant to brief the board about the committee’s work, the reasons behind the proposal and the manufacturing costs and timeline before engaging with the manufacturer to hear more and then potentially draw up and vote on approving the purchase.

“They wanted to put this in front of us so we can have some pretty serious conversations,” village Mayor Mary Fontana said. “They put eight months of planning into this so we’re all ready to listen to the manufacturer at the next meeting.”

The committee’s letter — which was read aloud at the board meeting by Fontana — noted that this price was “significantly reduced.” It credited this to strong relationships that village officials and TLVFD members had with their counterparts in the municipal government there and the PVFD.

The committee is composed of relief drivers and department personnel with extensive knowledge of Unit 165, TLVFD’s needs and the current landscape for purchasing new trucks. The committee noted the importance of Unit 165 and its high-caliber performance over the years.

“This apparatus has served our community with reliability and distinction,” the letter stated. “With a 1,500 gallon water tank at 1,250 (gallons per minute) pump and seating for six firefighters, including the driver, it remains a critical part of our response capabilities and is often one of the first units deployed to emergencies.”

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Reasons for replacement

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While the unit is currently functional and remains in service, “its long-term reliability is questionable,” according to the committee’s letter. Emerging problems include burning excessive oil, recurring oil leaks and parts, such as the truck’s lighting, that are increasingly difficult to source for replacement. These are coupled with industry-average delivery horizons for new trucks in the neighborhood of two or three years, according to the letter.

“Understanding the community’s history of cautious spending and the board’s responsibility to manage resources wisely, the committee took care to explore options that balanced cost, capability and value,” the letter stated.

The TLVFD’s truck committee reviewed apparatus proposals from three manufacturers: E-ONE, Rosenbauer and Pierce. The committee stated that they all provided new truck options that met TLVFD’s operational requirements without unnecessary enhancements and with an “honest” quote on the multiyear time horizon. After review, the committee ultimately recommended Pierce.

The letter noted that while Pierce can have longer build times, its demonstrated reliability, quality and TLVFD’s familiarity with their equipment ultimately led to the truck committee’s recommendation. Tupper Lake has historically chosen the manufacturer Pierce for its fire trucks, according to the letter.

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Costs

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“It’s important to note that the cost of fire apparatus has increased dramatically in recent years,” the letter stated. “The unit we are recommending exceeds $1 million, which, while staggering, is now considered a conservative figure for a full-size pumper engine meeting modern safety and service standards.”

In its letter, the truck committee pointed to a new street sweeper the village purchased in January for around $285,000 to contextualize how expensive specialized municipal equipment has become. The letter stated that the street sweeper was a “critical investment” in public works — and also a useful reference point for evaluating today’s financial reality.

“We are keenly aware of the village’s limited financial resources and the need to balance community needs with fiscal responsibility,” the letter stated. “Our recommendation takes this into account with a multiyear buildout timeframe. We will continue to build our truck fund reserve and propose financing for the remainder through bonding.”

The letter noted that typical payment schedules for bonds don’t require repayment until one year after the apparatus has been delivered. The department said this will give them additional time to “plan and prepare” for repayment. TLVFD plans to sell Unit 165 upon receiving the new apparatus, providing capital to put toward bond payments. The letter did not provide an estimate for how much Unit 165 could sell for.

Cole said the department has not set a price, and likely won’t until it’s determined if TLVFD will be getting a replacement truck. If the board approves the purchase, he said the TLVFD wanted to sell Unit 165 without having to hire a broker.

“We feel we can get more money for it with a private sale,” Cole wrote.

During the potential multiyear manufacturing timeframe, the letter noted that TLVFD was confident that Unit 165 will be able to continue performing as it has and remain a critical part of the department’s call responses.

“This recommendation is not made with haste, but with careful consideration, responsibility and the long-term sustainability of our department in mind,” the letter stated. “We are asking for a luxury. We are planning for the continuity in service, safety of our firefighters and protection for the people and property of Tupper Lake.”