Worth the Wait

Willow Springs City Council reviewed two bids for a new fire truck for the Willow Springs Fire Department at their meeting January 20, ultimately choosing a bid for a custom pumper/tanker for $279,725 from Danko. The other bid from Firemaster was for $292,184.36.

For the first purchase of a brand-new fire truck in recent memory, the Board of Aldermen were not concerned with choosing the more cost-effective option, but instead the truck that would be the best fit for the department's needs. 

At a budget discussion meeting in October, Fire Chief Vance Farmer explained to council the dire need for a new pumper/tanker truck. Currently, the department only has one truck that can fight a house fire, and "It's basically a museum truck," Chief Farmer explained at the budget planning meeting.

Volunteer firefighters work on the trucks themselves, volunteering their time, tools, and often buying the parts themselves.

"We're to a point now we don't know how many more band-aids we can put on our fire trucks," he said. 

The city council voted at the October 2021 meeting to plan to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the purchase of a new truck for the fire department. 

At the January city council meeting Chief Vance Farmer, flanked by firemen Paul McCormick, Nick Tooley, and Dustin Kupitz, described the collaboration of every member of the department to suggest the specifications on the bids. The department needs one truck to serve the purpose of a pumper and a tanker. According to Farmer, the Danko truck has more to offer with more user-friendly features. 

The Danko truck would take up to a year to build, but Chief Farmer assured the Council that continued routine maintenance would keep the department running while they wait for the new truck.

City Administrator Beverly Hicks informed council that the first installment of ARPA funding was available to make the down payment for the chassis, and the second installment will be available before the remaining balance is due.

A motion by Alderman Susan Rackley to purchase the pumper/tanker from Danko for $279,725 carried unanimously. 

"This is a major thing for us. We greatly appreciate it," said Chief Farmer.