Monroe County Commissioners unanimously approved on Tuesday, Aug. 4 to spend just over $1.13 million in remaining 2014 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds to buy equipment for Monroe County Emergency Services, including two fire trucks.
Among the purchases is a 2003 Pierce Heavy Rescue Squad fire truck with 15,376 miles on it in the amount of $250,000. The truck features an elevated lighting tower, a six-bottle capacity air cascade system, a Kussmaul charging system, generators, a hydraulic power unit, heavy duty trays and additional storage capacity.
Another purchase is a 2009 Pierce 100-foot ladder truck with 23,973 miles on it in the amount of $550,000. The truck is a quintuple combination pumper known as a “quint”, which refers to the five functions it provides – pump, water tank, fire hose, aerial device and ground ladders. The ladder truck features a 500 horsepower Cummins engine with an Allison IV transmission. It also contains a Stokes basket rescue system. Monroe County Manager Jim Hedges said having the ladder truck would help lower the county’s ISO rating but noted the ladder truck won’t be available for use until November.
The county also bought $40,000 in swift water equipment for the newly-created Monroe County Emergency Services Dive Team to use. This equipment includes: inflatable boats, motors with fuel bladders, a trailer, life vests, dry suits, ropes/harnesses and lights. Almost all previous Dive Team equipment has been purchased through donations.
In addition, the county bought a new medium duty ambulance on a Chevrolet chassis in the amount of $200,000 to be located at the Russellville road substation. Other additional purchases include: three automatic Lucas CPR devices in the total amount of $43,000 for each ambulance, 10 sets of turnout gear in the total amount of $28,000 and four Harris portable radios in the total amount of $20,000. County Manager Hedges said the county’s previous Lucas CPR devices have been responsible for saving the lives of at least 10 local citizens.
All of the purchases were recommended by interim Monroe County Emergency Services Chief Brian Meadows prior to his June departure as well as by new Monroe County Emergency Services Chief Matthew Jackson.
