December 25, 2024
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Peru fire, police departments will receive 1 new vehicle

City receives new Quint Fire Truck, council approves purchase of new squad car

By Jayce Eustice

Before the Peru City Council meeting Monday, June 7, 2021, city officials were given the opportunity to get a look at Peru Fire Department’s new Quint fire truck. (Jayce Eustice)

Before Monday’s Peru City Council meeting, city officials were given the opportunity to get a look at Peru Fire Department’s new Quint fire truck.

A Quint fire truck is a vehicle that serves both the purpose of an engine and a ladder truck. The name ‘quint’ refers to the five functions of the vehicle including pump, water tank, fire hose, aerial device and ground ladders.

Peru’s truck is equipped with a 100-foot ladder that will give firefighters the ability to reach more fires from a safe and effective distance.

The vehicle will be financed by the city through the Central Bank of Peru for the amount of $1,106,968 at 1.95% financing for a total of 84 months.

Members of the Finance Committee as well as Finance Director Justin Miller weighed the city’s options and with the competitive rate offered by Central Bank of Peru, they believed this was their best course of action moving forward.

“We did receive a quote from Central Bank that was pretty much right at where we would’ve internally financed it at,” Miller said. “This also eliminates our interest rate risk being something that fluctuates over the next seven or eight years. It takes the risk out of it for us.”

Peru’s Police Department also will be getting a new vehicle soon as the City Council approved the purchase of a 2021 GMC Acadia from Jeff Perry of Peru with a trade-in of a 2013 Ford.

The 2013 Ford is in need of repairs in the price range of $5,000 to $6,000. The vehicle has more than 100,000 miles on it as the city felt more comfortable pursuing a trade-in and purchase rather than investing in the older vehicle.

“To me it makes sense, instead of putting repair money into an older squad car to trade it in and get a new one,” said Alderman Aaron Buffo. “It can be paid with drug fund money so there is no pinch to the general fund.”

The new vehicle will be purchased with a total cost, after trade-in, of $21,100 and will be paid for through the city’s Drug Fund and within contribution from the Peru general fund.

Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei mentioned once the new vehicle is operating the department will rotate some of its vehicles moving forward.