RW Looks for Bids on New Fire Truck

Despite on the purchase of a new fire truck, Ridgewood is looking for bids.

The Wednesday night passed a resolution requesting that companies start preparing plans and specifications. The resolution is not necessarily an endorsement of a purchase, Village Manager Ken Gabbert said after the meeting.

The cost of a new ladder truck is estimated to be anywhere . With strained municipal budgets, further expected tax increases in 2012-2013, public opinion seems divided.

The has pushed the village to buy a new mid-mount platform ladder truck, saying the current truck is two decades old and maintenance costs will only rise as it ages further. Under Fire Director Jim Bombace, to add money to a fund annually. The expectation was a new truck would be in-house years ago. Should a new ladder truck be added to the fleet, the department plans to sell off a 30-year-old pumper truck.

The village manager told Patch the passed resolution is largely procedural – the bids will be evaluated by the fire department to ensure they meet safety standards; Village Attorney Matt Rogers will review the bids for legal requirements.

Eventually, the fire truck proposals should reach the council dais for a resolution vote, though recent appeals by current fire chief Jim Van Goor seem to have had a lukewarm response.

Two residents spoke out against the possible purchase of a new truck on Wednesday.