Serving the High Plains

Officials approve tanker truck purchase

Staff Report

Quay County commissioners on Friday approved the purchase of a new tanker truck for the Porter Fire Department, two weeks after firefighters opposed the proposed purchase, citing a lack of due process.

Porter firefighters held a vote and approved the proposal to buy a new tanker truck from Midwest Fire. Along with Porter’s purchase a second tanker truck for Quay Fire Department was also approved with a discount price of $280,590 for both vehicles.

The original proposal to purchase the tanker trucks was presented on Feb. 22 to the commission by Quay County Fire Marshal Donald Adams.

During that meeting, Porter Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Wallace and volunteer firefighter Steve Kent asked commissioners to remove the request for the purchase of a tanker truck because such a purchase had not been approved by the department.

Wallace said Porter Fire Chief Austin Gibson had not received a vote of approval from department members for the purchase prior to it being listed on the agenda.

District 1 Commissioner Sue Dowell and Chair Franklin McCasland voted to table the purchase until a vote could be held.

District 2 Commissioner Michael Cherry voted against tabeling the purchase.

Cherry said Adams and Gibson recomended the purchase of the tanker truck because Porter’s current tanker truck did not meet National Fire Protection Association requirements and the State Fire Marshal had said it must be replaced.

In other action, commissioners:

• Declared a countywide burn ban, effective immediately.

• Approved Resolution No. 26 certifying the county road mileage at 1,113.86.

• Approved the 2016-2017 CAP, Co-op, School Bus Projects.

• Held an executive session pertaining to threatened or pending litigation. Commissioners took no action.

 
 
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