MICHIGAN CITY — The City Council is planning to use proceeds from the new public safety fund on a $850,000 firetruck, but the proposal has sparked some verbal fisticuffs.
The council is expected to give final approval at its Feb. 7 meeting to use proceeds from the new public safety local income tax to buy the pumper truck.
The council argued about the approval process.
The Fire Department’s truck, a 2007 model, has broken down twice during structure fires. “That’s our oldest piece of equipment,” Chief Doug LeGault said. It will be put on reserve status when the new truck arrives. Reserve trucks, like newer ones, are inspected daily.
Councilman Paul Przybylinski, D-2nd, complained to LeGault about the council not automatically getting a packet of information about the purchase, including the type of truck, specifications, dealer and manufacturer. LeGault sent the information by email to Przybylinski after the councilman requested it.
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Przybylinski also scolded LeGault for not asking firefighters for their input on the new truck. That was done 2½ years ago under a previous fire chief, LeGault said, so he didn’t repeat the process. “We are planning to do this for the next piece of equipment, but what we need right now is a pumper truck.”
“That’s why you have management. Management makes decisions,” Mayor Duane Parry said.
Przybylinski also asked about a replacement plan for firetrucks, including the model year for each one and when they should be replaced.
LeGault said the department is working on that. “There is a plan. We haven’t completely had a definite answer, but we’re looking at the years of the vehicles and what’s next.”
“We need to have an active list, and the council needs to know what’s going on on this inadequate equipment,” Przybylinski said.
The construction boom in Michigan City will have an impact on department purchases and staffing. Tall buildings are planned next door to City Hall. Hotels and condos are included in development plans for the area, as are a new South Shore station and parking garage.
The Fire Department needs to be equipped to deal with the additional growth.
Council President Sean Fitzpatrick, D-6th, suggested drafting an ordinance to make sure the equipment replacement plan is updated annually. LeGault agreed.
“There is a (Cumulative Capital Development) fund for something like that, but it usually doesn’t build up enough for the purchase of firetrucks,” LeGault said.
That fund is used for police and fire equipment, and gets about $750,000 in it, council Vice President Don Przybylinski, D-at large, said, but most of the money has been allocated. “That’s not going to even touch a firetruck.”
That CCD money should have been used, Paul Przyblinski said. “We could have probably had this truck by now.”
