By David Swartzlander
Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska)
Copyright 2006 The Omaha World-Herald Company
LINCOLN, Neb. — In the midst of an investigation into the city’s purchase of seven firetrucks, the firefighters union president has this message: Lincoln needs to buy two more firetrucks.
“We’re slowly working our way to a crisis with ladder trucks,” said Dave Engler, the union president. “They’re too old. They need to be replaced, but there’s been no progression toward replacing them.”
Two of the city’s ladder trucks, although in fine working shape, date to the early 1990s, Engler said. Two others, the “new” ones, were bought in 1996, he said.
Rick Hoppe, aide to Mayor Coleen Seng, said the mayor shares Engler’s concern that firefighters and the public be adequately protected. But the city needs to settle the issues involving the purchase of the latest firetrucks before it considers buying more, he said.
Engler said he fears that the controversy over the seven pumper trucks the city purchased for nearly $2 million could postpone purchase of new ladder trucks, one of which is scheduled to be bought in the next fiscal year.
Lincoln police and the FBI are conducting a criminal investigation to determine whether corruption occurred in the city’s purchase of the pumper trucks. Seng requested and accepted Fire Chief Mike Spadt’s resignation July 7, after officials discovered those trucks failed to meet city specifications.
“I’m sure there will be much more scrutiny into the process,” Engler said.
He said the city needs to start the process of buying new ladder trucks to replace the old ones before they break down. Engler said public safety should be the city’s top priority.
The city has included two ladder trucks in its capital improvement budget, which looks at major purchases up to five years in the future.
Ladder trucks are expected to last about 12 to 15 years, said Carl Peterson, assistant director of the Public Fire Protection Division of the National Fire Protection Association.
Buying ladder trucks is one reason Engler said he thought it was important the city hire an interim fire chief quickly.
The Lincoln Independent Business Association, which acts as a local government watchdog, on Tuesday urged Seng to appoint someone to oversee a performance audit and a full independent review of the Fire Department.