Council OKs new fire truck search, grills chief on need for it
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, April 12, 2016, 11 p.m. (UPDATED with video, April 13, 5 p.m.) — The Bardstown City Council approved the Bardstown Fire Department’s request to solicit bids for a new ladder truck — but only after a close and sometimes testy examination of the need for one.
Bardstown Fire Chief Randy Walker speaks to the council about plans to request proposals for a new ladder truck for the city fire department. The truck would replace the city’s 1988 ladder truck.
Fire Chief Randy Walker spoke to council to request permission to advertise a request for proposals for a new demo 107-foot ladder truck to replace the city’s oldest fire apparatus — a 28-year-old ladder truck purchased in 2008.
The truck is having maintenance issues, and the ladder’s weight limit represents a possible hazard for a fully outfitted firefighter who needed to rescue one or more people from a building. The truck’s pumping capacity is less than newer trucks and the truck only carries half the amount of water newer trucks do.
The existing ladder truck’s tip weight is 400 pounds. A fully equipped firefighter can weigh 250 pounds, leaving a margin of 150 pounds to account for the weight of a victim in a rescue situation.
“In that situation you could jeopardize the health and safety of the victim and the firefighter,” he said.
The cost of the new truck can be partly covered by the $731,253 in the current fire department budget for a new pumper truck. A new ladder truck will run about $850,000. Walker said the department will be able to sell the old ladder truck and apply the proceeds toward the new truck. The department has unused funds in its volunteer fire department fee budget to help make up the rest, and Walker said there’s an opportunity to get a $20-25,000 discount if the truck is paid for in advance.
Councilman Francis Lydian said the city should buy a used truck instead, and said that the Insurance Safety Office (ISO) had a problem with the truck design the department was considering.
“ISO has no issue with this truck,” Walker said. “I don’t know who told you that but they are wrong.”
ISO is a rating bureau that grades a community’s fire protection, Walker said. Walker told the council he used to work for the ISO.
Walker told Lydian the truck committee looked for a used truck but determined it preferable to seek bids on a new one that meets safety standards and has a warranty. Finding a truck that fits inside the confines of the city fire department is another issue.
“You all hired me to be your fire chief. My job is to advise you all what is in the best interest of the community,” he said. “I’m trying to guide you with what I feel and what the committee feels is in the best interest of the citizens of Bardstown.”
The purchase of the new truck will not change the city’s ISO rating, Walker said. The ISO rating covers more than just trucks, it includes water supply, dispatch, career firefighters and other aspects of fire protection. “It’s a myriad things the ISO survey looks at, firefighting apparatus is just one piece of that.”
Lydian warned if the existing ladder truck doesn’t sell for enough, it could lead to a deficit in the fire department budget.
After additional discussion the council voted 5-1 to allow the fire department to advertise for a new ladder truck, with Lydian voting “no.”
CVS PHARMACY PLAN APPROVED. The council unanimously approved the Development Review Board’s recommendation for Five Star Development of Alabama’s proposed 12,900 square-foot CVS/Pharmacy building located at 90 West John Rowan, currently the home to a branch of Town & Country Bank and Trust Co.
City Attorney Tim Butler said the possible litigation regarding the plans for the project between the bank and the landowner should not delay the council’s consideration of the plan. Once the litigation is resolved, the plan would be ready for the developer to begin construction.
In other business, the council:
— approved a 5K walk/run event request from the Kentucky Air National Guard for May 21.
— took no action on a request from American Legion Post 42 to make Bardstown a military sister city of the Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Councilman Bill Buckman said that the national and state American Legion needed to sign-off on the request first.
— approved requested street closures for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Sept. 13-18, 2016. Changes for 2016 include closing Xavier Drive at 10 a.m. Friday instead of 3 p.m. as in years past; allowing booths to open at noon instead of 4 p.m. on Friday; and extend the closure of all parking lots until 6 p.m. Sunday.
— approved a 5k walk/run fundraiser for the Nelson County Community Clinic on June 18.
— approved a five year tax-assessment moratorium for a home located at 202 South Third St.
— approve a municipal order to establish a form and procedures for groups seeking donations from the City of Bardstown.
— approved the reappointment of Keith West to the Spalding Hall Historical Committee.
— approved paying registration fees and mileage for council members who wish to attend the Kentucky League of Cities Officials Academy April 27-29 in Louisville.
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