Hobart chief: Firetrucks a ‘new direction’

The Hobart Board of Public Works and Safety approved the purchase of two new firetrucks and an ambulance Wednesday for $1.6 million, as well as $280,000 in new equipment for the two trucks.

“This will take the fire department in a new direction,” said Fire Chief Randal Smith, who noted that all the equipment will be placed on the new pumper trucks.

One pumper will be housed at Station 2, near Interstate 65, and the other at Station 4, near U.S. 30, where the bulk of the extractions from vehicles takes place. He said the new ambulance will go to Station 4.

Smith said the cot on the new ambulance will be automatically loaded into the vehicle, a safety feature for firefighters.

All three new vehicles replace ones that reached the end of their useful life, he said.

The board also approved the disposal of a 1996 quint fire truck for $2,000. Smith said the truck cannot be serviced and the department was offered the scrap price for it.

City Attorney Anthony DeBonis said the new vehicles are being purchased through a cooperative agreement and will be paid off over seven years.

The Regional Development Commission has agreed to use some 61st Avenue tax increment financing money to help pay for the vehicles, he said.

In other matters, the board released the 3.2-acre parcel in the Silverstone property that will be the site of the proposed Safe Haven apartments for veterans from a development agreement made with the city. The apartments will be on the southern portion of the property, which is off Mississippi Street, north of U.S. 30.

This was one of several steps needed for Safe Haven to proceed with its project.

The board agreed to allow three temporary construction easements on city property for Northern Indiana Public Service Co., which will compensate the city $2,275. Assistant to the Mayor Robert Fulton said the company wants to store pipes on city property south of 61st Avenue as it undertakes an upgrade of its gas pipeline there.

“It’s a large undertaking,” Fulton said.

Building Official Mike Hannigan said the city may get additional grant money to tear down dilapidated houses and he would add a house at 1317 S. Lake Park Ave. to the list of those that would be razed. Letters have been sent to the owners of the eight houses that would be demolished and to demolition companies, he said.

The South Lake Park Avenue house is owned by US Bank National Association, based in California.

Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.