Medina votes to pursue a new ladder truck for fire department

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Medina ladder truck, built in 1996, only has 2 inches of clearance from the top of the fire truck when pulling in and out of the fire hall. This photo is from March 12 when the fire department had an open to show some of the concerns with its aging fire trucks and cramped fire hall.

MEDINA – The Village Board on Monday night voted unanimously to start the process to acquire a new ladder truck for the fire department.

The current apparatus is 27 years old, and is often plagued with mechanical issues. Mayor Mike Sidari said he is concerned the current truck may not last long enough until the new ladder truck is ready, which could be about three years away.

There isn’t a price yet for the new ladder truck. It is expected to top $1.5 million.

Sidari said the village will pursue a cooperative purchasing agreement and reach out to fire truck manufacturers. With that agreement, Medina can piggyback onto other fire departments seeking similar ladder trucks and use similar specs for the truck.

Medina is seeking a bigger ladder truck, a 100-foot ladder compared to the current one with a 75-foot ladder. The new truck will be longer and taller.

It is one factor in why the village is also seeking an addition to the fire hall.  The addition to the fire hall that would be approximately 62 feet, 8 inches by 88 feet, 8 inches. That expansion, plus repairs to the existing fire hall, would be about $4.5 million, according to a report from the Barton & Loguidice firm.

Because of the long lead time for the ladder truck, the board is getting that process started now. Fire Chief Matt Jackson said manufacturers of the trucks put the current time to build a truck at 35 to 42 months.

Mayor Sidari said the village will also begin to work on the financing for the truck and addition to the fire hall.

“We know the need,” Sidari said about the ladder truck and fire hall addition. “We just have to move forward with it.”

Trustee Tim Elliott made the motion to pursue the ladder truck replacement, and that was seconded by Trustee Jess Marciano. All five board members voted in favor of the resolution.

“This will start the ball rolling,” Elliott said.