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Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler replied that the truck would be included under <br />equipment and if the City does not have adequate equipment to properly protect buildings in the <br />City it could be an issue. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen inquired if that was true even with a mutual aid agreement. <br /> <br />Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler replied yes. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman stated that it is a difficult year financially for the City and the aerial <br />ladder truck will probably only benefit one percent of the City. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that if they wait another year they will have even more buildings in the City <br />that they cannot adequately protect. He agrees that it is a difficult time financially, but with the <br />City's growth they need to proceed with the purchase especially since it will take at least a year <br />to receive the truck. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kurak stated that she would support purchasing the aerial ladder truck because <br />the cost of the truck will not get cheaper and the City will continue to grow. The truck should <br />last at least 25 to 30 years and she personally does not like granting variances for building <br />heights when there is not adequate protection for those buildings and the only reason the <br />variances are needed is because of the City's lack of fire suppression. The aerial ladder truck is <br />not just a ladder, it has other equipment on it. The City will need another truck in the near future <br />one way or another so they should purchase an aerial ladder truck. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated that there are many things they can build a case for and <br />certainly he did not want anyone to believe he wants anyone to die, but as a City they need to <br />prioritize what they are spending money on. Having a ladder truck available through mutual aid <br />from three surrounding communities might be a reasonable choice, given the cost. In the overall <br />picture, if they have to make cuts, he felt the aerial ladder truck was a reasonable cut. <br /> <br />Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler replied that he did not stand before the Council <br />thinking the purchase of the truck was a small matter. Given the right fuel and oxygen a fire can <br />double every 30 seconds, which is why he feels so strongly that the aerial ladder truck needs to <br />be one of the first lying equipment. When the neighboring cities purchased their equipment, they <br />did not look at the needs of Ramsey. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen replied that maybe the greatest return on their investment is a full- <br />time fire department. He stated that they could probably figure for a ¼ million dollars they could <br />have a full-time staff, in comparison to one truck that may or may not be used. If they have a <br />full-time staff they could respond to a fire even sooner. <br /> <br />Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler replied that whether they have a paid on call <br />department or a full time department, if they don't have the appropriate equipment it is not a <br /> <br /> City Council/Augus.t~~, 2001 <br /> Page 4 of 7 <br /> <br /> <br />