FARMINGTON – The Farmington Fire Department will get its new $812,500 firetruck.
Voters passed the referendum Tuesday with 794 yes votes and 497 no votes to approve the combination pumper and ladder truck. The one truck will replace two firetrucks – the pumper truck that is due to be replaced this year, and the ladder truck that was to be replaced in 2012 based on the estimated 25-year life span of the trucks.
The fire department has set aside $215,672 in a fire truck reserve fund and has been offered $100,000 for its current ladder truck, which it paid $315,000 for in 1988. The University of Maine at Farmington also offered to pay $25,000 towards the purchase if question 1 passed, Fire Chief Terry Bell said.
The remainder of the cost will come from the town of Farmington, which would get a loan not to exceed $500,000.
Not only will the town save by not having to buy two new trucks, but it will also not have to pay for fuel and maintenance on two trucks, Bell said. Had the town chosen to purchase two separate fire trucks, Bell said a new pumper truck would cost $400,000, and a new ladder truck in 2012 would be $900,000 or more.
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