City approves trip to inspect possible aerial truck

Rogers City Fire Chief Tim Luebke asked the Rogers City Council for its assistance during Monday morning?s council meeting. Luebke located an aerial fire truck advertised, and believes it might be a good investment for the city; however, he and another RCFD official need to make a trip down to Virginia Beach, VA to inspect the truck further.

?FROM THE pictures and reports, it seems like a fairly good truck,? said Luebke. ?We have to make sure everything works.? According to Luebke?s research, the truck is up to certification standards, and would allow the RCFD an edge on fighting fires, such as the fire that destroyed two historical downtown Rogers City buildings and severely damaged a third last February. ?This (aerial) truck would give us a fighting chance,? said Luebke, ?especially with our downtown area.? The truck, which is a 1987 Grumman 50-foot aerial pumper unit, would cost the city $49,000. According to Luebke, a typical 50-foot aerial unit would cost between $70,000 and $120,000. ?We (RCFD) do not have the monies in our budget,? said Luebke, ?but if the money could be found?it would be good to look into.?

COUNCILMAN Gary Nowak had concerns with the truck?s age, and said he spoke with a local fireman who was not in approval of the possible purchase. Luebke said he would like the opportunity to go and look at the truck in person before making any conclusions. The truck is reportedly about 20 years old, and Luebke said in rural areas where trucks do not get as much mileage and usage, the vehicles can last up to 30 to 35 years. Luebke said the aerial truck would be a positive addition to the current fleet. He said the surrounding area outside of the city limits has many two-story farmhouses.

?Those old houses are not easily laddered,? said Luebke. ?There would be times when we couldn?t get close enough (with aerial truck), but in the times that we could, it could save us. I believe an aerial truck would be a great advantage to us.? City manager Mark Slown said the decision to purchase this truck would be up to the city. He said the fireboard is not interested in the purchase, and if the city bought the truck, it would be their asset. ?This is not something we know everything about at this point,? said Slown, ?but it?s an opportunity. I would recommend the city allow Tim (Luebke) to go down and take a look at the truck.? It would cost about $1,000 per person to make the trip to Virginia Beach. Council approved to have Luebke and another fire department official to travel to Virginia. There will be a meeting about their findings immediately after they return to Rogers City.

IN OTHER city council news:

? City manager Slown explained to council he was researching possible ways to rectify the drainage problems at the newly constructed Advance building. The basement of the new building has had water problems, and Slown mentioned that although the city had agreed to work with the builder/engineer regarding the location of a storm sewer, it was not done. The minutes from a May 8 Planning Commission meeting state that ?since the building is smaller than the building it replaces, the roof runoff should decrease?the location of the storm sewer has not been determined. Staff will work with builder/engineer for an amicable solution prior to completion.?

? Councilwoman Deb Greene said she believed ?at this point, it?s our (the city?s) problem.? It was noted the owner of The Advance, Richard Lamb, was willing to work with the city to find a solution to the problem. Slown later commented the city is concerned and would like to see the drainage problem resolved.

? Due to a flaw in the city?s notification system, a secon

d public hearing regarding the Klann-Flemming subdivision will be held. The first public hearing, which was in regard to an ordinance change to rezone property, should have involved all residents within a 300-foot radium. At least six residents were not notified of the meeting. The time of the public hearing will be set up by the Planning Commission at its next meeting. The rezoning applicant, Ed Fleis of Dorvin, LLC, has been notified.

? Council accepted the annual audit report from David Gwizdala, which stated Rogers City earned an unqualified or clean status, meaning the city?s financial statements are correct.

? Councilman Nowak asked his fellow council members to express their approval of CDC/EDC director Bill Valentine after he read in a recent newspaper article that a Presque Isle County Commissioner was ?not too happy with Bill.? The city council gave overwhelming approval to send a letter of support to all county commissioners.