The Liberty Town Council (LTC) reviewed the purchase of a used tanker truck for the Liberty Fire Department (LFD) at its Nov. 1 meeting. 

LFD had sourced a 2003 Freightliner tanker truck from Palmetto Fire Apparatus of Ridgeland, South Carolina to replace an aging tanker truck with a rusty tank last month and sent a team of firefighters to drive the truck back to the firehouse. After a thorough inspection and subsequent road trip, LFD has found some work to be done before going into full service.

Matt Reuss explained the truck is in need of new drive tires, a siren, new batteries and some general service. The department has enough money remaining in the township fire maintenance fund to cover those costs, but not to cover the paint and decal work. Town clerk-treasurer Melissa Shepler reported the riverboat gambling fund, which funded part of the truck purchase, will have $7,000 remaining. Of the funding that had been set aside to cover the purchase and transportation of the truck, $2,467 remains. Shepler estimates the paint and decal work will run $9,400. 

LTC vice-president Keith Bias asked what the township fire maintenance fund is budgeted for next year, Reuss replied $10,000. 

“Since that is a township truck, I don't mind putting some money toward painting decals, but I'm wondering, and I would feel better about it, if we kind of split the cost between township fire and [Town of Liberty],” said Bias.

Bias suggested waiting until next year and funding half of the expense from township fire and the second half from the riverboat fund. LTC president Matt Barnhizer explained the department's old tanker will remain on hand as a backup until all work on the new truck is completed. Reuss added once the new truck is fully in service, the old truck will be sold off.

Also discussed:
-LTC member Ross Keasling updated LTC on the status of the special project coordinator position the town is working with the county, Union County Foundation and West College Corner to fund. He explained the finalists have been cut down to one remaining candidate, who is expected to sign the final paperwork this week and start on Dec. 1 on a 13-month contract.

-Liberty Police Department chief Andrew Jordan presented price quotes for a 2022 Ford Explorer Interceptor from Bloomington Ford and Kenny Vice Ford. While Bloomington Ford sent in a bid $562 less than Kenny Vice, Jordan suggested purchasing the vehicle from Kenny Vice, whom the department has worked with in the past. Kenny Vice delivers the vehicle to the department and brings the paperwork to Shepler's office for completion, eliminating the need for overtime or travel expenses to visit a dealership. 

Barnhizer noted a new vehicle is in the budget for 2022 and therefore LFD cannot take delivery of the vehicle until January. LTC voted to approve the purchase.

-Reuss, town utility superintendent, reported water meters out of town on S.R. 44 and Brownsville Road have been upgraded with the new radio read meters. The department will perform a radio read on those meters for the next billing cycle. Parts to upgrade the remaining out-of-town meters are on order, Reuss estimates half of the meters will be upgraded by the end of the year. 

-LTC reviewed and approved a resolution supporting the expansion of the town's water and wastewater utilities outside of town in conjunction with the county. Barnhizer explained the resolution states the LTC would support the county running town utilities to developments outside of town. Keasling pointed out the resolution does not fully commit the town to any project.