Snowflake Town Council OKs Purchase Of A New Pickup For Fire Department

By Naomi Hatch
   The acquisition of a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban by the Snowflake Fire Department has enabled Fire Chief Pat Hancock to arrive on scene and size up the situation prior to the arrival of the fire trucks, reducing the response time.
   Hancock advised the town council July 8 that the Suburban is currently out of service due to mechanical failure, and would require approximately $4,500 to get it ready for service. It was repaired previously and didn’t make it off the fire station lot.
   Hancock discussed the situation with Town Manager Paul Watson, who suggested the fire department use $20,000 that was placed into the capitol outlay budget for matching funds for a vehicle grant. He said if the department does not receive the grant, it could use the money; if it does receive the grant, Hancock will come back to the council.
   Chief Hancock also said that in five years the department has received more than $500,000 in grants.
   He explained that the department could use the state contract for vehicles and purchase a Ford half-ton, four-door pickup for $27,000, but he sought additional bids. Earnhart bid $28,669; Tate’s Auto Center, bid $26,190.34; and Hatch Motors, $26,423 for a Dodge pickup, which is $232.66 higher than the state contract bid. Because of the small difference between the lowest bid and a local bidder, Hancock asked that the SFD be allowed to purchase the vehicle locally.
   The council was unanimous in its decision to award the contract for purchase of a Dodge pickup to Hatch Motors, with an additional $4,500 for an NFPA light package from Silver Creek Custom Trucks.