New Knoxville passes ordinance to buy firetruck

NEW KNOXVILLE — Village councilors Wednesday agreed to waive a third reading and passed an ordinance that allows the village to purchase a new pumper firetruck.

Council unanimously agreed to pass the ordinance to purchase a truck from Sutphen for $588,382.

The truck will be custom built by Sutphen to meet specifications of New Knoxville’s fire station, which has 9.5 foot doors.

Fire Chief Jerry Merges had said at council’s April meeting that the truck will meet 95% of the station’s needs.

Council was assured there would be no down payment or periodic payments before the village takes delivery of the truck, which currently has a 26-month build time.

Councilor Brian Jones asked about the contractual obligations of the order, asking if they could make modifications in the future as the village and Auglaize

County commissioners met last month to discuss the viability of building a new fire station out at the Neil Armstrong Airport within the next few years.

“We’re not buying a short-change truck. We’re paying for a truck that’s going to be a little longer and squished down to fit. The next truck can maybe be a little shorter, have more water,” said Merges. “This will be a good truck for 25 or 30 years. We kind of have to go with what we know right now and that’s why we’re doing this.”

He added that by ordering the truck before the end of the month, it locks in the current price. If ordered after June 1, Merges said the price could go up by 8 to 9%.

“I feel like we’ve made a good decision. I think we got a good truck,” said Merges. “This is the first step in kind of resetting where we are. I feel really comfortable with what we’re doing.”

Also Wednesday, council passed a resolution authorizing the village to use a the standard allowance for the fiscal recovery plan as authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Fiscal Officer Abby Homan said the allowance amounts to $74,000 and allows

the money to be used for other village needs beyond the original outlined use for water infrastructure maintenance. The resolution was passed by emergency to meet a deadline coming up at the end of the month.

In other business: • Councilor Carolyn Bock, the streets and sidewalks committee chair, said that progress of the splash pad was moving along,

with the village intending on opening it in early June. She and Jones discussed signage noting safety regulations which will be completed soon. Bock said that the Auglaize County Health Department does not need to inspect the splash pad before opening as the system does not reticulate water, using what she called a “pump and dump system.”

• New Knoxville

resident Jacob Wilcox attended the meeting and voiced complaints about recent police action in the village. Mayor Keith Leffel told Wilcox to file a complaint with the village office and they would look into the matter.

• Council entered executive session to discuss property. No action was taken.

• The next council meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. on June 8.