Oh, they're slick alright. One minute the new Fire Station is a $10,000,000.00 project. Then when that's not popular any more they change it to an $8,000,000.00 project. As if that's not bad enough, then they stand there and tell you that they saved the taxpayers money by staying 3% under budget.
OK Idiots, 3% of what figure? Oh, I know, it's 3% of the $10,000,000.00 price tag, now isn't that convenient! Today they announced they saved the taxpayers $300,000.00, "despite many features being added to the project."
OK, let's talk about those many features. Flat screen tv's. Special phone systems and computer systems. Furnishings for each and every room and office. The list goes on and on.
HOWEVER, what's NOT mentioned is yet another MAJOR SCAM by Chief See and Deputy Chief Gordy!!! As SOME of you know, the Salisbury Fire Department has ordered a new Ladder Truck at the cost of $1,200,000.00! Somewhere along the way they have mentioned another Fire Truck they want to order. Now, let me explain something to ALL of you. Remember when I did that walk through in the new Fire Station and Gordy stated they were getting ALL brand new equipment? He wasn't lying!
The Salisbury Fire Department will be ordering 5 Brand New Fire Trucks, not just a Ladder Truck! These guys just can't stop spending Folks! It is so out of control it isn't funny! The word on the street is they are doing so because one of the manufacturers has filed Chapter 11 and they're afraid they won't be able to get parts quickly, SO THEY MUST BUY ALL BRAND NEW EQUIPMENT!
Talk about a crock of sh!t! I had been speaking to other Fire Departments about this issue and they assured me that not only would they fully expect someone to buy out this company should they go completely belly up, they'll be manufacturing parts at a premium and loving life when they do so.
Other Fire Departments were telling me that when all these other companies are ordering $500,000.00 Trucks, they're ordering the same truck at a cost of $300,000.00 instead! Why, because they aren't ordering ANY bells and whistles because times are tight right now and that's just the way it is.
Other municipalities have a separate fund for ordering such vehicles and have millions saved into that account in which they never tap into. The account was set up to make sure the funds were always there should they need a new piece of equipment. Isn't that a noble idea?
In the end it's all about "FEATURES," right Chief? It's also about how the Daily Times brings you what the GOB wants you to hear and NOT the actual facts. Did the Daily Times know about the 5 new Fire Trucks? Nope! Will they ever say anything about it? NOPE!
So will your taxes be going up? YES! Are YOU going to stop these people from spending? NOPE!
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
22 comments:
the city has known since before construction began that the fire station was going to cost 8 million. anyone that worked near that project knew that.
It's great that the city is buying the FD new equipment. It's long overdue. A tax increase for somethng like that I'd have no problem with.
JOE,Joe what about the upper level with the cracked floors? The city gonna accept that? What happens when they put all that extra heavy equipment inside? Gotta love them BLOGS.Not the marshy ones.
I think the town of Ocean City started a joint trust fund many years ago, that dedicated a percentage of the tax rate toward the replacement of their trucks, in addition to the fund raisers of the fire department. If I remember correctly, they only buy something after the funds are saved, and now should have a substantial fund set up. I also heard the department budget has actually decreased the last few years. I couldn't believe that, and reviewed the meeting on the town web site and confirmed it. I wonder if our spend happy leaders lead by the old mare can say the same.
8:57, yeah right, how much do you pay in city taxes, bet none!
Joe,
I think you are talking about different pieces of equipment. An engine. The piece of equipment that carries hose, pump, and water will cost 300 to 500 thousand dollars. A truck which has the ladder on top, will cost 800,000 to 1.5 million dollars.
I think the Bury's engine might cost $500,000 but the ladder truck will cost 1.2 million dollars. Especially if it is a tower ladder. The kind with a bucket on the end of it.
Thanks,
Mike
only crack in the floors I have seen are in the heritage center. Not the engine bays where the heavy equipment will be parked
If you read more carefully, the commenter stated crack "upstairs." There are additional cracks in the floor in one of the equipment rooms upstairs.
Did Harkins do the concrete?
The cracks are superficial. You got to expect small things like that in a project this size. Much ado about nothing.
Anonymous said...
It's great that the city is buying the FD new equipment. It's long overdue. A tax increase for somethng like that I'd have no problem with.
8:57 AM
Multiple Choice Quiz
Who is Anonymous 8:57 AM?
1)Dep. Chief William Gordy
2)Dep. Chief Richard Hoppes
3)Chief David See
4)Mare Tilgman
5)Council V.P. Bubba Comegys
There is no scam here. American LaFrance has gone Chapter 11 for the third time and the future is not bright for them. The city has three LaFrance pieces in the fleet. Truck 2 was out of service for over two months around Xmas because the parts to fix it were locked down. A special provision was made by a judge to allow the part to be released. What will happen the next time it breaks ? This department cannot risk the loss of the piece for a lengthy period of time. Therefore the city is being proactive in purchasing apparatus from a reputible dealer and selling the LaFrance rigs to anyone who wishes to have a firetruck that is still in good shape, BUT A RISK FACTOR !
I believe the average Engine purchased by the SFD is between $ 350,000 and $ 400,000. The ladder is right on scale with market price for any aerial device. They are not parade pieces. They are work trucks that are designed to met our needs. Bring the new trucks on. We need them.
If Lafrance has gone bankrupt three times already the city should have been more proactive long before now. That is fiscal irresponcilbilty at it greatest, only idiots would have continued to do business with them unless there may have been something in it for "Them," being the purchasers. Like it or not those things happen everyday and not just here in the 'Bury.
IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW NEW AND GREAT THE FIRE TRUCKS ARE! IF THE CITY AND COUNTY ROADS ARE NOT FIXED SOON IT WILL BEAT THE KING PINS , DRAGLINKS AND TIE ROD ENDS RIGHT OUT OF THEM. THAT STRETCH OF MAIN STREET IN FRONT OF THE OLD FIRE HOUSE WILL BEAT THE CHIT RIGHT OUT OF YOU NO MATTER HOW SLOW YOU GOOR HOW SMALL A CAR OR TRUCK YOU ARE IN. SAD TO INVEST IN FINE EQUIPMENT LIKE THIS AND CITY MANAGEMENT CANNOT EVEN PUT SMOOTH ROADS UNDER IT TO OPERATE SAFELY
Those American LaFrance fire engines were bought by renegade station two volunteers during the attempted separation. Ex-chief Higgins allowed these low budget fire engines to be purchased. After their arrival station two faced bankruptcy forcing the city to buy them. Since day one they’ve been nothing but junk costing a fortune to keep in service. That’s why they are being sent down the road.
Bill Jones SFD2
If Lafrance has gone bankrupt three times already the city should have been more proactive long before now. That is fiscal irresponcilbilty at it greatest, only idiots would have continued to do business with them unless there may have been something in it for "Them," being the purchasers. Like it or not those things happen everyday and not just here in the 'Bury.
6:47 PM
The three peices of equipment were bought by station 2 before the,what we call the WAR started, but American LaFrance has been making equipment for a very long time.Nobody saw this coming and there are companies all over the country that have lost half a million dollars in trucks that they have ordered and they will never see that money again and now they have to start all over again.I could say more but next time do your homework before you come on here and stirr the pot!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there a more dishonest, contemptable man in Salisbury the Bill Gordy? I won't buy anything from his Tiger Marts!
Anonymous said...
Is there a more dishonest, contemptable man in Salisbury the Bill Gordy? I won't buy anything from his Tiger Marts!
9:10 PM
Yes his name is Richard Hoppes and his favorite food is fast food. He won't buy anything from the Tiger Marts either because he gets his gas for free at the tax payers expense.
anon. 6:57
I completely agree with you!! It tics me off evertime i go across our lousy roads ...but what tics me off more is the outragous taxes we pay....for?????
way i see it, there ain't no way to stop 'em.
At least the Vollies get out and work fund raisers to get their money instead of bleeding the taxpayers!
I saw a fireman driving one of those huge rescue vehicles on East Carroll Street. There wasn't a thing wrong with the way the guy was driving, I would be willing to bet that he was going under the speed limit.
I could see the poor guy bouncing up and down as the road was beating tha crap out of him and the taxpayer's rescue vehicle. That's a main artery to the hospital, imagine what other streets are like.
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