Ventura approves new fire truck purchase; proposes tax rate

by Marianne Gasaway

The Ventura City Council has approved the purchase of a new fire truck at its regular Council meeting Jan. 14.

A Nov. 3 rollover accident took Ventura’s 2000 Freightliner Pumper fire truck out of commission.  Since that time the department has had free use of a 1981 Hendickson fire engine, which the Storm Lake Fire Department had retired from service.  

At the Council meeting City Clerk Else Taylor informed the Council that the City has received funds from its insurance carrier for the full replacement value of the 2000 Toyne Fire Truck.  It was recommended the discount offered by Toyne to use these funds as a deposit towards the purchase of a new truck is in the best interest of the fire department.

The truck value for replacement was $341,000.  The cost of the new truck is approximately $462,000.  The additional $121,000 required for the new truck will be paid from funds the fire department has been setting aside for the past five or more years in anticipation of replacing the unit.  The city will not be borrowing funds for the fire truck purchase.

On a 3-0 vote, the Council passed a resolution approving the purchase agreement with Toyne to purchase a new fire truck.  Council members John Quintus and Pete Cash abstained from the vote because they are members of the Ventura Fire Department.

Ventura Fire Department leaders stated earlier they hope the former Storm Lake truck can be passed on to the next department in need when their new truck arrives.

In other business at the meeting, Taylor reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2019-2020 budget and levy rate with the Council.  The city is proposing the general levy rate be set at $6.69 and the debt service levy at $3.84 for a total of $10.53 per $1,000 of