Hanceville Fire Department officials approached city leaders Tuesday asking for two new fire trucks, and after a lengthy discussion about the city’s finances, it left with approval for one.
Splitting the difference in the department’s ask for two new vehicles, the council agreed to the larger, more costly option — a Class A pumper — while declining the department’s request for a smaller, more versatile mini-pumper truck designed to go where larger trucks can’t, as well as deploy more rapidly as first response vehicles to medical calls and vehicle accidents.
Mayor Kenneth Nail and most council members spoke up at one point or another during the 90-minute discussion preceding the purchase vote, agreeing with the others that the department could make good use of both vehicles — if only the money for both were already secured.