Rockmart to get new rescue truck

Rockmart’s city council is treating the fire department well by authorizing the purchase of a new rescue vehicle.

The department’s current vehicle is showing its age and racking up large repair fees, so, to make sure locals get the help they need, various Polk entities have joined hands to fund the project.

“We’ve been looking at this for quite some time,” Mayor Stephen Miller said. “It was going to be contingent on the county’s participation, and the county has voted to fund 50 percent of this project.”

While the county has pledged 50 percent, Rockmart and Cedartown both take roles in the financing positions, and the two cities will be responsible for funding in various years.

“The total package before any financing comes to $278,825,” Rockmart Fire Department Assistant Chief Randall Cupp said earlier to the county. “There are several fi- nance options, we can do a 10-year lease purchase with the Georgia Municipal Association. We can go with a 5 year. A lot of that depends on approval from y’all, and how your share of money will come in.”

The longest option is the 10 year, and Rockmart will be responsible for 5 years and Cedartown will be responsible for 5 years.

Polk County Commissioners agreed during their March meeting to cover half the cost of the new rescue vehicle during their March session earlier in the month, paying their half of the financing up front in cash.

Rockmart’s rescue vehicle does more than just run out to fires. It is also used at the Hazmat vehicle for the county, carrying equipment and supplies used when major spills, wrecks with leaking fuel and other chemicals or for when investigators stumble upon an active drug lab used to make methamphetamines on a local level.

It additionally carries supplies used in car wrecks, which will also be upgraded during the new vehicle purchase that will be forthcoming.

The rescue vehicle wasn’t the only thing promised to the fire department during the March 13 meeting.

The council approved a budget amendment that gives $12,500 to the department for various repairs.

“As part of the fiscal 2018 budget, we approved an expenditure of $ 24,000 for some work at the fire station,” Rockmart City Manager Jeff Ellis said. “Basically to replace the concrete. Some situations have developed up there new to the aging fire department, those costs basically amount to $11,425 including all the work that needs to be done. We’re authorizing half of what we originally planned while we address the concrete situation.”

“I’d like to compliment Pam (Herring) and her team,” council member Sherman Ross said. “I know it takes a lot of work to do all this.”