Council approves substation bid, also purchase of used fire truck

GENTRY -- City Council, at its July 7 meeting, accepted the low bid of Gardisser Construction for the construction of a new fire department substation. The council also approved the sale of an old pump truck and the purchase of a newer one.

Three bids, ranging from $60,500 to $104,622, were received for the construction of a 40-by-80-foot steel building with four bays for fire trucks and equipment. The low bid of Gardisser Construction for $60,500 was accepted. The bids included deductive alternates to make it possible for the department to move forward with construction of the building even if the total bid amount exceeds the amount budgeted this year for the project.

It was anticipated that the building would be put up, with a driveway apron and utilities installed at a later date.

According to Vester Cripps, Gentry's fire chief, the building design allows for expansions and additions later, including the option to add living quarters at a future date if they are needed.

Gardisser Construction was the county's builder for the Cherokee City substation which was built several years ago.

The new substation will be located at the corner of Taylor Orchard and Marion Lee Roads in Gentry. It will house trucks and equipment and be in closer proximity to SWEPCO's Flint Creek Power Plant and to lands annexed several years ago in the Dawn Hill area.

Also approved by the council was the sale of a 1978 gasoline engine pump truck and the purchase of a 1987 GMC diesel engine pump truck at a price of $27,000.

The newer truck has the same capacities as the old but is a 4-wheel drive, diesel-powered truck which sets up high and could be taken into fields and over rough roads and be an invaluable asset in bad weather. It was formerly used in Bella Vista and has only 20,000 miles on it and has a new engine.

The 1978 truck is only 2-wheel drive. The department has used the old truck since 1998, purchasing it from the county in 2002 for $2,500.

Money for the purchase will come from the fire department's sinking fund -- specifically for truck purchases. The old truck will be offered for sale on the Internet through GovDeals.com.

To purchase a new truck of the size and with the capabilities of the 1987 truck would cost approximately $170,000, according to Cripps.