Firefighters go to council for vehicles

On Monday the Lincoln City Council heard testimony on a resolution proposed by the mayor’s office to help Lincoln Fire and Rescue.  It would allow using surplus funds from the one quarter cent sales tax to buy new fire engines and trucks.

LFR’s vehicles have been routinely out of service and frequently need maintenance.

"We have an immediate need right now for fire apparatus that’s been building for a couple of decades," said Public Safety Director Tom Casady.  "It’s getting to a critical stage."

LFR said even if the council approves the apparatus proposal in the city budget, they won’t have them available until November of 2019.

"It’ll take a year to order and get that apparatus from the day we order and that’s probably not going to be until September or later," Chief Michael Despain said.

He said they expect to be opening two new stations between next April and January of 2020.

"We’re already going to open one station without new apparatus to put in it, so we’re going to be pulling from our reserve apparatus fleet," he said.

Others asked the city council to make sure they knew exactly what the city’s need was.

"Over 3 years, we’re purchasing 16 new fire apparatus for Lincoln Fire and Rescue," said LIBA President Coby Mach.  "Yet the resolution that was before them today said that our need was only for nine, but the director of public safety testified that we needed 11."

The council also wants more details and clarity on how many fire vehicles they need and the different proposals that are out there.  They decided to delay the vote and further testimony on this resolution until August 27th.