The fire equipment will replace older vehicles like this 1976 quint.
Rockford Fire Chief Derek Bergsten
Rockford Mayor Larry MorrisseyBy Michael Peppers
ROCKFORD (WREX)
A vote in Rockford City Council ensures the fire department will get four new vehicles by the end of the year.
Alderman voted 12-1 in favor of the plan and the fire department expects it will have some of the equipment in the next 30 days. Older vehicles will be replaced. The department will get 3 new quints, which are engines with ladders and one standard engine.
Rockford Fire Chief Bergsten says the newer quints would help the department cover areas with multiple high rise buildings.
"Out on E. State, we have several hotels and motels that need protection," he said. "Around Rockton [Avenue] and Halsted [Road] we have the hospital, several retirement communities that we're able to protect so those provide that type of coverage that we need in those areas."
All total, the four vehicles have an estimated cost of $3.2 million. The city will lease them for 7 years at a rate of $350,000 per year. Rockford will continue to lease new vehicles for other departments. It's part of a long term plan aimed at upgrading the city's fleet in a cost effective way. Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey says it a good move.
"We're going to be able to do a much better job ensuring the public and ensuring our staff that we have the right equipment for the job that's safe and that's going to do the best job of meeting our taxpayers needs," said Morrissey.
Chief Bergsten expects the department will have all four vehicles ready for service in 6-8 months.
Rockford aldermen also voted to add plans for the South Main Revitalization to the city's long term Land Use Plan for 2020. A brief public hearing was held on it before the vote.
7th ward Alderman Venita Hervey addressed how she was happy the revitalization was moving forward, but also acknowledged some of the painful elements of the improvements. One being the shutting down of long time Rockford business Al-Mar florists.
Mayor Morrissey says the city is still searching for money to get the revitalization rolling.
