About all that’s known of the new fire truck purchased by the Village of Waterville is that it has returned to South Dakota.
As of last week’s Village Board meeting, the manufacturer, Rosenbauer, had not communicated with either the village or the Waterville Fire Department. The truck was towed back to South Dakota at the end of September because of a problem with the body of the truck sitting crooked on the frame.
Mayor Gene Ostrander called it mind-boggling no one from the company has contacted the village. “You’d think they’d let us know what is going on,’’ he said.
He asked Village Attorney Bill Getman to think of a way to get the company’s attention. The village has paid in full for the $330,000 vehicle and is paying on the loan despite not having the truck.
When the truck arrived it was undriveable because the driver’s side front wheel rubbed against the body, while the right side had a big gap between body and wheel.
Trustee Jim Younes said the truck will need a major repair job before it can be put into service. He said the village needs to tell the company the truck’s warranty will not begin until the fire department can use the vehicle.
In other business during the 35-minute public portion of the meeting, DPW Superintendent Jamie Bechy said the village did not receive a grant from the Department of Environmental Conservation for tree removal. Trees will be removed using money in the budget allocated for that.
Bechy said the department is starting to install the new digital water meters. Using software they can be read as village vehicles drive through the village.
Home owners will be sent letters on when to expect their new meter…