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Friday, January 16, 2009

Is It Just Me?


Or are you getting the feeling we're catching this scene far too often lately? Watch your wallets Folks because you can expect the SFD to come to Council asking for even more perks. I heard the new Fire Trucks were coming in this week and that the bid on the old Ladder truck is at $3,500.00? The tools alone on that Ladder Truck are worth more than $35,000.00!!!!! Pittsville thinks they'll be able to get that Truck for $5,000.00, according to one commenter.

So how do YOU feel about selling a Ladder Truck probably worth $30,000.00 to $40,000.00 for just $5,000.00? Here's another thing I find QUITE INTERESTING! How does ANYONE, (including me) know that the sealed bids were up to $3,500.00????? Let's see if I can put two and two together. Paul Wilber is the attorney for the City of Salisbury, right? Isn't Paul Wilber the attorney for Pittsville too? I'm not suggesting Mr. Wilber has anything to do with it but that's the first thing that came to my mind, how about you?

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

The car has a flat tire..

Ha Ha Ha

Anonymous said...

The new tower - ladder is at Chesapeake Hook and Ladder in Hebron having the tools mounted.
I would like to know how many of Salisburys streets this will not be able to go down because of its size?
Lets see her go down the streets in New Town off Isabella at 2am when its loaded with parked cars.

Anonymous said...

If that old truck goes to another local FD, I think it's great that they might get a good deal on it. It is not uncommon for FD's nationwide to give or sell at a reduced price unneeded equipment to less fortunate depts.

Now if it goes to an private insider for a discount price, so that it can be resold at a profit, that I would have a problem with.

Also, I highly doubt that it is being sold with the tools on board. If by remote chance that is what is planned, a better idea would be to donate them to MFRI.

Anonymous said...

Truck 2 and other quints soon to arrive will be the primary trucks for conjested residential area. The bigger truck is needed for SSU, PRMC, Wor-Wic and other current and future high structures in this area.

joe albero said...

Local FF,

I don't necessarily disagree with you. However, this should be up to the best interests of the Salisbury Taxpayers. There must be an apraised value to this vehicle. I truly do NOT see where Pittsville is hurting for Fire Trucks, no disrespect. I also cannot see where a Ladder Truck is a necessity for Pittsville. If I'm wrong, that's cool too.

BigEastFireDog said...

Almost every town can use a Ladder truck with the new homes that are going up all over the county. If you look at the roof pitch on most of these modern homes it is very steep and almost impossible to walk on.

What the advantage of using a ladder truck is that you wind up with the capability of quick safe access to the roof in order to vent, which decreases the hazards in the building during a fire, in most cases that is. Not to mention all the other capabilities you can do with a unit like that.

In the case of Pittsville, yes they have a ladder truck and it is in very good condition but the problem with that truck is that there is no pump, no water tank and is limited to positioning on the fire ground due to not having big outriggers. However that truck still gets the job done.

Now look at truck 16 it has a pump, it has a water tank, and has big enough outriggers for a full 360-degree work area. In my personal opinion if the Pittsville Vol. Fire Company is trying to better their capabilities to their community for Fire Suppression and Support, More Power to them. Any Company Would Do the Same.

These comments are of my personal own and not that of any company or department I am or may be affiliated with.

Anonymous said...

Pittsville Ladder truck is 30+ years old. If the equipment goes to another local dept. what does it matter if that dept. gets it for a discounted rate. The fact that it will still be in service and not just sitting around in a city lot getting rusty should be the key factor.

Anonymous said...

But if the old firetruck is good enough to use by other FD's then qhy get rid of it? Is this the ladder truck that hurt that fireefighter? If so why would another FD want it?

Anonymous said...

They should put it on Ebay

Anonymous said...

Well if the truck is good enough to give to anouther town, then why was it not good enough to keep or refurbish. Yhat would have been a saving to the city during hard times.

Anonymous said...

Chiefs See and Gordy with the assistance of Gary Comegys, are not interested in saving the taxpayers any money. If the vollies bought the ladder truck with money given them by Wicomico County then they should let Pittsville have it for a discounted rate. After all, they too are taxpaying citizens of Wicomico County.

I also agree if it's good enough to be fixed up for Pittsville to use safely why didn't Salisbury make the needed repairs instead of putting the taxpayers millions in debt?

Anonymous said...

I think its great that Pittsville can get the truck. Its better than what they have and they'll take care of it. The truck does have some life in it and will do the job. Mack trucks will run forever and the ladder is less than ten years old. The wear and tear of the SFD calls are hard on the rig.

Pittsville might use it twenty times a year instead of several hundred in Salisbury. A 28 yr old ladder truck wont draw many buyers beyond a wholesale dealer. $ 5000 is a pretty good price for it. I like the fact that a local department is trying to help another in need. Thats what its all about.

Anonymous said...

Pittsviles truck doesnt need a pump. What ladder truck does? What do we have engines for?

Anonymous said...

I think they towed the car to the paint shop to make it black over red like everything else will be in the near future with sfd

Anonymous said...

The new sfd ladder is getting all new tools.

Anonymous said...

Opening sealed bids and leaking the amount is nothing new in Salisbury. I know of at least three times that I have been made aware of. It was done with the last ladder truck in 1997. They had bids of $ 3500 AND $ 4100 and rejected them. They opened it up for rebid and made it known that $ 4100 wasn't going to touch it. They scared away all but one bidder, who got it fo $ 650. He then bragged about piecemealing the truck for better than $ 6000. He was a volunteer with the inside track to City Hall. I was member of Station 2 and saw it firsthand. If infact it does happen so what. You cant fight City Hall. Their going to do what they want and cover their tracks. Just accept it.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Chiefs See and Gordy with the assistance of Gary Comegys, are not interested in saving the taxpayers any money. If the vollies bought the ladder truck with money given them by Wicomico County then they should let Pittsville have it for a discounted rate. After all, they too are taxpaying citizens of Wicomico County.

3:15 PM

Don't forget about Rick Hoppes. He is right in the middle of it stealing all kinds of money from the tax payers. He is doing a good job of flying under the radar because he is hoping to be the next fire chief. I hope who ever is elected is much smarter than that.

Barrie = Bubba
See & Gordy = Hoppes

Anonymous said...

Didn't the City of Crisfield give Pittsville a ladder truck? Or am I mistaken? I thought I remembered seeing something in the paper a few years ago?

Anonymous said...

The word around Salsibury is that Gordo is going to open them with help at City Hall. Pittsville will be told what they have to beat to get it. Believe me, they'll get it. Gordo always gets what he wants no matter what. If he gets caught they'll just smack his hand and do nothing. Same old game as usual.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know if what the poster said before is true that the truck Pittsville already has was given to them?

Anonymous said...

Truck 2 has been refurbished a couple times, after all it is the fist run piece from Station 2. These pieces are needed in this new age of construction.

Anonymous said...

Yes the truck that pittsville has was given to them . I also know that if pittsville does get tk-16
they are going to offer it back to crisfield.because they got it for free and would not profit from it without the offer back first.

Anonymous said...

Reading between the lines. If Crisfield doesnt want it back they'll try to sell it after it was given to them? Why don't they in turn give it to someone else? Am I reading that correctly?

Anonymous said...

maybe they will. but crisfield has first option. please don't look for a negative there none.

Anonymous said...

Auction them off

Anonymous said...

Whats wrong with a ladder truck not having water or a pump?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
I think they towed the car to the paint shop to make it black over red like everything else will be in the near future with sfd

3:59 PM

Why is Gordo, Fatso, and See wasting tax dollars on changing the paint scheme again. Just two years ago they changed everything to look like the New York City Fire Department and now they are changing everything again to look like the Chicago Fire Department. Someone needs to be held accountable for these criminal acts of stealing tax dollars.

Who in the city administration is approving all of these changes?

Anonymous said...

Whats going on with the married firefighter paramedic that got some young girl pregnant? I heard there have almost been a couple of fights over it because some "friends" are trying to cover it up. Salisbury keeps hiring from the bottle of the barrel. Scraps that real fire departments don't want.

Anonymous said...

Bottle of the Barrell? Since when did they insert a bottle into the barrell and how do they get it in there?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Bottle of the Barrell? Since when did they insert a bottle into the barrell and how do they get it in there?

12:25 PM

I think they meant "bottom of the barrel."

By the way, before you start poking fun at someone you need to check your own spelling. I think it is barrel not barrell!

Anonymous said...

anon 9:10 What does a person's private life have to do with this post. Move on.

Anonymous said...

We are missing a key point here. Did the car have a flat tire? Why cant firemen change flat tires?

Anonymous said...

i can tell you one thing, there is no need for the city of salisbury to buy any new vehicles or equipment before they fix the streets and roads within that are simply unexcuseable by a mayor and council that spends millions on wants by certain politcians and there dept head buddies.the whole city is crumbling and starting to look like a 3rd world country . mr caldwell i surely hope its not to late for you. i think you and mr pollitt will also work well together recreating the county and city bond that we need so much now to get us back to speed .also glad to see we have less than 100 days of the reign of total mispending and blinded ideas this city has ever had.

Anonymous said...

There is nothing wrong with a ladder truck not having a pump on it. With no pump the engineer can focus on operating the ladder and not try to run the pump panel at the same time.

Anonymous said...

You tell me The car only has a flat tire. I am a women and my dad tought me how to do that. Nice tow bill for what? It is insane grow some balls change your own tire after all we the taxpayers are paying for your gas and time. What towns pay for is CRAZY!!

Anonymous said...

The city council should follow up on why a car with a flat tire was "towed" instead of the tire being changed. Was the car stranded in the middle of the road or just picked up at the new fire house

Anonymous said...

"Whats going on with the married firefighter paramedic that got some young girl pregnant?"

Dont worry about it. May be part of the job requirement to work / volunteer there.