Supervisors approve purchase of new fire truck for Pinedale dept.

The Pinedale community’s Union County Volunteer Fire Department will be receiving a new fire truck in mid-2009.

Union County Fire Coordinator Steve Coker came before the Union County Board of Supervisors Monday and received approval on the purchase of a new fire truck.

Board of Supervisors President Danny Jordan said, “You want to buy that fire truck on state bid price is what I understand.” Coker said, “We want to get that (contract) signed and the fire truck ordered prior to December 31, 2008 because there will be an additional change with federal regulations and requirements as of January 1, 2009 that will make this truck purchase more expensive. We don’t need to push the envelope where we will have a snag in this thing.”

According to County Administrator Terry Johnson, “When it comes to state contract bids like this one for the fire truck, the state negotiates for the best price.”

In accordance with the rural fire truck acquisition assistance program (RFTAAP), the state gave Union County $70,000, but the truck costs $240,000.

Coker said,  “Mississippi counties are eligible to apply through the RFTAAP. There is an eight-to nine month delivery time on getting the truck because it has to be constructed.”

A motion was needed for the purchase of this truck. The motion was carried.

The board also approved the following: Union County Road Department work schedule, manual checks, claims docket, medical examiner fees and the solid waste corrections register. The board will reconvene Monday, December 8, 2008.