East Peoria Fire Chief John Knapp expertly pitched the need for a new fire truck at this week’s City Council meeting. What he got in return was not the familiar response the fire department is more accustomed to.
The City Council said no.
“What I take away from that vote is that I didn’t get done what needed to get done to make the case that needed to be made,” Knapp said a couple days after last Tuesday council meeting. “The need remains the same. That hasn’t changed. But I need to explain it better I guess.”
The council voted 3-2 to deny the request to spend $340,000 for a new demo model fire truck, rather than pay upward of $200,000 to repair two old ones.