Town of Mount Olive officials say they have found a way to replace a more than 20-year-old pumper truck in the fire department, and the loan on it can be paid off in half the time such efforts have been done in the past.
The effort to replace the old truck, officials said, is the most pressing current need in the department.
The new truck will cost approximately $650,000.
Currently, the town owes about $550,000 on three trucks now in use.
Just recently, the town sold its old National Guard facility to the Mount Olive Pickle Company for $550,000.
The funds were directed by the town board to be set aside for the fire department.
Town Manager Charles Brown said Mount Olive Fire Chief Greg Wiggins has proposed to take that $550,000 from the armory sale and pay off the current debt on those three trucks.
The town manager called it “a great idea” and said the measure has already been endorsed by the town board.
The annual debt payment on the three trucks is about $77,000.