Truck 16 Questions, Answers & More Questions

The following is an email sent to the Mayor, Council Members and John Pick. The questions are in bold, answers are italicized and below the italics are additional questions asked of the city. More waste of taxpayer dollars. Remember Gary Comegys voted for every single new toy the fire department wanted. Including an increase to his own retirement fund.

John Pick wrote:

The following provides answers to your questions on the pending
sale of Truck 16.

1. Why was this truck not sold on Ebay or through other fire truck or truck sales brokers?

This vehicle was advertised with a nationally recognized used fire
apparatus broker, Firetec, both online and in their January 2009
catalog. (No inquiries were received as a result of this advertisement.)
The Procurement Division currently does not use Ebay to dispose of
surplus equipment.

Well maybe you should be using Ebay, it's not hard to post an auction, anyone with a computer can do it. Here is a link to a 1975 Mack ladder truck that is currently bid at $3300. Ebay Fire Truck This truck is 34 years old and bringing more than you are saying Pierce offered as a trade. I'm sure a 1997 would have brought more than we're getting for it from Pittsville.

UPDATE: Truck 16 is a 1980 Mack. It should still bring more than $3200. No more use than that truck got the only thing old on it is the paint. You can't kill a Mack truck.

2. Was the truck appraised before being sold? If so, what was the
appraised value?

The vehicle (with equipment) was appraised for trade-in by Singer
Associates and Pierce Manufacturing ($3,200.00).

This is not an appraisal, it is what they are offering as a trade. No different than any shiester car dealer. The city should have been insulted by such an offer and considered taking their business elsewhere.

3. Were the tools and additional equipment sold with the truck? If so, were these items appraised separate from the truck?

The tools that exceeded their useful life with our department were
advertised in the RFQ and are intended to be sold with the vehicle. These items were not appraised separate from the vehicle.

Rather than replace only those that were no longer useful, the city is replacing all tools required for the new ladder truck? The city ordered and paid for them separate from the truck, so why were the tools and additional equipment not appraised separately.

4. Providing the tools were appraised, what was the appraised
value?

See question #3.

5. Was the request for sealed bids advertised?

The RFQ (#8-09) for Truck 16, including equipment, was posted on the
City of Salisbury's web page on November 21, 2008 through the close of
the bid January 21, 2009, and was advertised in the Daily Times on
November 23, 2008.

6. Who was to receive and be responsible for the sealed bids received?

The Internal Services Department (Procurement Division) received all
responses to the RFQ. Quotes received were opened on January 21, 2009 at 3:30 P.M.

7. How many sealed bids were received?

Two responses to the RFQ were received:
Northstar Fire $2,000.00
Pittsville Volunteer Fire Department $5,500.00

8. How much of a financial loss was realized by the city in the
sale of this truck?

Since the vehicle and equipment exceeded their useful life for the Fire
Department ,and will be fully depreciated by time of sale, the City will
actually net a gain in unbudgeted revenue in the amount of $5,500.00.

I fail to see how a vehicle of this size, barely used has exceeded its useful life. The only thing lost would be the depreciation for tax purposes not the usefulness of this piece of equipment. The city is not realizing a gain when there are large payments being made in the form of lease payments for the unnecessary replacement of this vehicle. Wouldn't it have been far less costly to the taxpayers to maintain Truck 16?

9. Why is the city dispatching trucks to Appleton, Wisconsin for painting, retrofitting and warranty work? What is the cost of this trip to the city? Please include all expenses paid by the city, e.g. man hours, per diem, fuel, tolls, wear and tear etc.

The volunteer fire line officers have a desire to implement several
upgrades to the 2005 apparatus that will enhance firefighter safety,
operational efficiency and promote the service life of these vehicles.
The upgrades include larger electronic mirrors that were excluded from
the original specs due to space constraints at the old fire station;

Larger electronic mirrors? Do you mean electric mirrors, that are heated for defrosting and adjustable via electric motor, switch operated in the cab? If so, these mirrors and brackets can be purchased and mounted at Barr Freightliner, Barr International, Harvey Mack, Truck Parts or even NAPA, all right here in Salisbury and Delmar. Total cost of mirrors, brackets and mounting would not exceed $500.00

installation of new SCBA crew cab seats that are safer and operationally
more efficient for occupant use. There are several additional NFPA
upgrades that have been identified for inclusion in this project
(securing hose lines, enhanced LED lighting).

All of the above could be done here locally. This does not require a manufacturer facility to perform the work.

Additionally, there is a desire to repaint the cabs of these apparatus to meet the new paint scheme for Department (black over red). After discussing the scope of
this project with the manufacturer, Pierce recommends that the units are
returned to the Wisconsin location where they will be entered into their
refurbishing plant and these changes can be made quicker and at a cheaper cost than at a local Pierce dealership.

Please explain how it is less expensive to run heavy vehicles 2,000 + miles, round trip, with tolls, wear and tear and fuel at over $3.00 per gallon. These vehicles more than likely average 6 to 7 miles per gallon, if that much. Barr International has a paint shop that can accomodate equipment of this size. The money spent locally would more than make up for what it would cost to take the equipment 2,000 miles, round trip, across the country. This paint scheme was not decided on by the volunteers, it was decided on by Chiefs See and Gordy. Lets be honest for a change, the firefighters, career and paid had no say in this matter. It's just another "want" to quote Deputy Chief Bill Gordy, of the "big boys and their toys".

The Department workgroup has developed the scope of this project with Pierce but has
not yet received cost estimates. Once these figures are received the workgroup will make a presentation to the Fire Chief for final consideration and approval. If approved, the vehicles will be driven to the Wisconsin Pierce plant by professional drivers employed by Pierce. The volunteer corporation will fund this entire project. Subsequently, there will be no cost to the City.

The volunteers are funded by county taxpayers. I for one do not appreciate my tax dollars being wasted on trips for paint and lights that could be performed by local businesses. To say there is no cost to the city is false. The cost of wear and tear is a cost to the city.

10. Why were these trucks dispatched to Wisconsin not sent to Pierce's regional service centers in either Baltimore or Middletown, DE?

No vehicles have been sent anywhere at this time. See question #9.

11. What is the depreciation schedule for the truck, tools and other depreciable equipment sold with this piece of equipment?

This vehicle was purchased 4/15/1997 at a cost of $130,000. The
depreciation schedule for this equipment was 12 years; therefore it will
be fully depreciated as of March 2009. The unit is not anticipated for
release until mid-March 2009.

What this all boils down to is the SFD Chiefs want new trucks, new fire palace, new paint and the city is going to roll over and give it to them because they want it? We county taxpayers don't take kindly to our tax dollars being spent frivolously. It won't be the paint job that comes to our aid when we need emergency assistance.
Thank you, for your time, although I found these answers to be non answers.

Note to Shanie: The next time you are crying about the calls SFD runs to the county, it would be wise of you to remember, the county taxes are paid to SFD Volunteer, Inc., without them, you would not have any new, shiny, red and black fire toys.