City council considers aerial fire truck replacement

Sep. 19--WORTHINGTON -- The potential purchase of an aerial fire truck to replace a used model purchased 12 years ago was a topic of substantive discussion during a special Worthington City Council meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Though no council action was taken, multiple options were presented on how best to replace the city's current 100-foot aerial truck. A 1994 model -- purchased used in 2008 -- the truck has experienced mechanical difficulties with the ladder mechanism, which has made it unstable and unsafe for continued use.

Worthington Fire Department Chief Jason Larsen told council members that the 54-inch bearing that the ladder turret turns on needs replacement. Cost of that repair is estimated at $80,000, but there's "no assurance that the problem has actually been identified," Worthington City Administrator Steve Robinson noted in a memorandum to council.

Larsen said the current aerial truck was "heavily used out in New York" prior to its purchase by the city of Worthington. He said the truck was purchased site unseen and has experienced multiple problems since the city took ownership; it's also cumbersome to maneuver.

"It has been basically out of service more than it has been in service," said Larsen, who referred to the truck and its ongoing problems as "a nightmare."

Robinson said the fire department's equipment revolving schedule has the aerial truck slated for replacement in 2039, when it's 45 years old. It was acknowledged Wednesday, however, that the city has under-budgeted in its 2020-2024 fire department equipment schedule by at least $2 million.

A new aerial truck would cost in excess of $1 million, while used trucks between eight and 10 years old will likely run between $500,000 and $650,000. Options initially presented Wednesday included investment of another $80,000 to $100,000 in the current aerial truck, spending in excess of $500,000 for a used truck or spending in excess of $1 million for a new truck.

"Buying this truck will have an impact on future purchases," Robinson emphasized.

Councilman Alan Oberloh asked about how often the current aerial truck is used -- which Larsen admitted is rarely, but that's due more to its mechanical problems.

"We firmly feel it's a need," said firefighter Chad Nixon, noting the height of buildings along 10th Street and elsewhere in the community.

Oberloh subsequently raised the possibility of leasing a new truck, rather than purchasing one outright. Pierce Manufacturing, a national leader in fire truck equipment, could offer this option, it was agreed.

"I think we should look at the lease like Al was talking about ... and see what they have to offer," concurred councilman Larry Janssen.

"I think there are cities going more and more into leasing," Oberloh added.

Other conservation about potential purchase or leasing of a new truck pertained to extending the ownership time of other vehicles before their replacement, as well as how mutual aid with other regional fire departments could potentially allow multiple communities to share needed resources.

The council will likely have a work session during the week of Oct. 5-9 to discuss the issue further.

In other business Wednesday, the council:

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Authorized city staff to proceed with joining a fiber optic network developed in 2009 by Worthington Public Utilities and Nobles County.

Remote meetings and employee teleworking caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have exposed the poor internet service at City Hall, Robinson noted in a memorandum to council. With the likelihood of continued remote meetings and work, staff began exploring options to improve its service.

Worthington Independent School District 518 joined the fiber optic network in 2018, investing $150,000 to extend the fiber loop around portions of the west and south sides of the city. The city will now pay its own user fee of $150,000 -- to be paid with its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocation -- to boost internet service at City Hall as well as additional city facilities.

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Heard a presentation on the Southwest Crisis Center's (SWCC) child advocacy center that will be based at the agency's Worthington branch.

As previously reported in The Globe, the child advocacy center will facilitate collaboration between various entities available to help victims. A soundproof room will be built inside SWCC for forensic interviews, so that while one interviewer converses with the victim, the other key players confer in another room.

Representing SWCC in the presentation were Dulce Willardson, who will serve as program manager for the child advocacy center, as well as SWCC Executive Director Sara Wahl and Worthington Police Department Capt. Nate Grimmius.

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