Noel Buying Truck For Fire Department

The Noel City Council approved purchasing a new rescue truck for the Fire Department .

During a meeting Tuesday evening, Fire Chief Brandon Barrett told the council the department has been “milking” its rescue truck for several years. It is a 1978 model the department got from Lanagan when Noel took over fire protection for that city. He said the truck has several problems including the engine smoking so badly they have to turn it off when they get where they are going. The truck carries a lot of equipment and goes to all car accidents, he said.

Barrett reported he found a 1997 Ford Super Duty for $6,000. At one time it was a lineman truck. The council voted to purchase the truck.

Mayor Lewis Davis told the council the Fire Department did not budget for fire inspections this year, so the city should probably wait until January to start doing them again.

Barrett mentioned the reason fire inspections did not work in the past was because there were no repercussions for violations. Davis said violators will have to appear in court.

Davis also told the council that 15 registered letters have been sent to property owners about properties that need to be torn down or have major repairs. He gave them 30 days to comply. If they do not comply within 30 days, they need to appear before the City Council to explain why, he said.

Davis reported that a FEMA engineer came to town and looked at Scout Drive, which was washed out by the spring floods. FEMA estimated the rock for the repairs would cost $30,000.

Davis also shared a letter to landlords within the city limits that advises them to require their tenants to clean up their yards. Alderman Allie Peck asked that something be added to the letter advising landlords that there is a limit on how many people may live in a residence.

In other business, the council approved the 2016 audit.