Muskegon Heights had its third fire truck go down for repairs last week, leaving it temporarily without any working apparatus.
Even with that one, 11-year-old truck back to work after repairs, the city still has a dire problem on its hands. Two, 24-year-old trucks also need major repairs to be street-worthy again. The fire chief estimates the cost of running the old rigs is at well over $100,000 per year.
The shortage of apparatus is something the city tried to head off when it budgeted $200,0000 to purchase a replacement vehicle this year. However, the department found the market moved quickly and the city was out-priced. To find a truck to replace on of its larger aging pieces of apparatus, the city now needs $500,000.
The city council has voted repeatedly against purchasing a smaller mini-pumper to shore up the city’s fleet.
City officials will now focus on coming up with a source of funds to repair the aging fleet, Channel 8 reports, and rely on mutual aid from neighboring communities.
In the longer term it hopes a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant will help it buy a replacement vehicle.
Muskegon Heights is a small city with a steadily declining population and it has struggled to maintain services in the face of a declining tax base.
