Oakland Struggles To Replace Aging Fire Truck
COFFEEVILLE — The rising cost of fire trucks is placing small towns like Oakland in a difficult position, a challenge Yalobusha County supervisors discussed during their Jan. 5 “first Monday” meeting as District Four Supervisor Eddie Harris outlined efforts to help the town move closer to replacing its aging fire truck.
Harris said work is underway to help Oakland secure outside funding for the purchase, including multiple meetings with officials at Ajinomoto Foods about potential financial support.
“I am trying my best to help them,” Harris said. “We met the second time with Ajinomoto Foods in Oakland, and they pretty much said probably 75 percent that they will put some money on the fire truck.”
Harris emphasized that while county officials are assisting in the process, the purchase itself would remain the responsibility of the Town of Oakland. He also questioned a state requirement that limits the length of financing if state funds are used toward the purchase.
“We are talking about the Town of Oakland,” Harris said. “They received $70,000 in RFTAAP money. You are talking about roughly a $600,000 truck, but you want them to finance it for 10 years. The Town of Oakland can’t afford to finance it in 10 years. Why will the state not allow them to do 20 years?”
Funding from RFTAAP (Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program) triggers the financing limitation, according to county officials.
Yalobusha County Emergency Management Agency Director Stewart Spence said the restriction is set by state law.
“That is a stipulation from the Legislature if you receive RFTAAP money,” Spence said.
Harris said he has contacted state lawmakers in hopes of revisiting the requirement.
“I talked to Sen. Ben Suber. He said he is going to try to work on that,” Harris said. “I called Rep. Kevin Horan, but he hasn’t returned my phone call.”
More than 1,000 fire trucks have been purchased statewide through the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program since its creation in 1995. The program provides matching grants of up to $90,000 for fire truck purchases.
The discussion follows similar conversations dating back two years. Supervisors have previously noted that Oakland has one of the oldest fire trucks in the county and responds to a high number of calls outside its municipal limits, particularly along Interstate 55.
Town officials have said the pumper truck must be replaced to maintain the town’s fire rating, which requires an equipment upgrade every 20 years.
