By: TONY MARKS
Associate Editor
A new fire truck was the main topic of discussion at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Evangeline Parish Fire District Number Two, Ward One.
Unit 416 is currently being constructed and will become available to the fire district in January. Ted Demourelle updated the board on the status of the unit’s financing. “There is a proposal from Government Capital to finance the new truck whenever it becomes available,” he said. “I had Brent Coreil review it, and he sees nothing wrong with the contract and that it would be to our benefit.”
Demourelle stated that since it is a lease purchase, the board does not have to go before the bonding commission. He also stated, “if we default on the payment, they’ll pick up the truck.”
The board approved the motion for the financing of the unit and approved paying the changes to the estimate in the amount of $3,003.59. Demourelle advised the board that the total new price of the unit plus tools is $379,289.00 which is “in the ballpark” of the original estimate.
Assistant Fire Chief Blake Perron gave the chief’s report on behalf of Chris Harrison. “Ladder tests had been completed,” Perron reported. “We’re still trying to get the pump testing done. It rained the last three or four times we tried, but we’re trying again Tuesday to get everything taken care of. We don’t want to make too many holes. Some people complain that we make holes when we turn into the driveway, so we’re trying to let it dry up.”
In other business, the board:
•tabled an update on drug testing costs.
•approved specs to be drawn up for the concrete project at the Faubourg Station.
•and approved the board to help the different stations pay for suppers for the training and the regular meetings.