Clearwater is in the process of purchasing a new fire engine, and it will be expensive.

Monday, the council passed a resolution that will allow the city to issue up to $810,000 in bonds to cover the cost of the truck.

Last week, Clearwater Fire Chief Ryan Pridgeon said the department’s truck committee has been doing research for two years to find the right equipment to replace the current engine, which is 22 years old.

They determined the best option was to purchase a new Pierce Velocity TME Pumper at a cost of over $770,000.

Pridgeon said the existing truck should have been replaced at 18 years. 

“We’ve been sinking a lot of money into it to maintain it and keep it running. There’s still issues with it,” he  said. “If we don’t go through with this (purchase), we’re going to have to spend $50,000 to $60,000 just to bring it up to snuff to keep using it.”

Pridgeon said the department will be using some of the equipment and tools on the existing truck, which will save additional costs.

Interim Administrator Liz Lindrud said Monday’s action does not obligate the city to issue bonds immediately to purchase the truck. It just allows the city to do so in the future. It also preserves the bid price, which would increase by 4% after Jan. 31, 2020. 

Lindrud said passing the resolution to allow the city to bond for the truck had to be done quickly because of state statute, which allows for a reverse referendum if the dollar amount of the truck exceeds .25% of the estimated market value of the taxable property in the city. Notice of the resolution had to be posted for 10 days so the public had a chance to move forward with a referendum.

“That’s where the time sensitivity is,” she said.

Should the city go forward with bonding, an equipment certificate can only de done for a maximum of 10 years.

The city is currently in discussions with Clearwater and Lynden townships about the fire contract formula. Members of the council also want to talk with the townships about how the purchase will affect future contract payments. 

Lindrud said the city will likely not make the purchase early in 2020, however the build time for the new truck is 11 months. So the department won’t get the new truck until 2021.

New Administrator

Annita Smythe will be starting as Clearwater’s new city administrator Jan. 13. Monday, the council passed a resolution appointing her to the position.

Last week, members of the council and Smythe agreed to the terms of her contract. She verbally accepted the offer by phone after the meeting. Monday’s resolution made it official.