By Jon Johnson
PIMA – Through the hard work of volunteers, generosity, and support from the community, civic organizations and the Pima Town Council, the Pima Fire Department will soon have a shiny, spanking new firetruck.
At its Tuesday night meeting, the Pima Town Council unanimously approved the purchase of a new water tender for the fire department up to $150,000.
The truck itself is listed at about $145,000, according to Pima Town Manager Sean Lewis, and with money utilized by fundraising efforts, the cost to the town will actually only be about $76,700.
Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Valley Central: People flipped head over heels at the inaugural Big Splash Bash earlier this year to help purchase a new firetruck for the Pima Fire Department.
Lewis said the town will finance the purchase through the OneAZ Credit Union with a five-year loan at 3.34 percent financing so not to stress the town’s finances.
The council previously approved a different purchase, but that was based on figures regarding a 2016 chassis and by the time the fundraising effort made it feasible for the town to purchase the truck, only the more expensive 2018 models were available.
Pima Fire Chief Adam Hoopes expressed his appreciation to everyone who made the purchase of the necessary new equipment a possibility.
“With the outpouring of community support and the generous funding from the United Way of Graham & Greenlee County, our town council’s action to move forward with the purchase of this desperately-needed fire apparatus is now closer to reality,” Hoopes said. “The council is very supportive of the fire department, and we appreciate (its) decision Tuesday night.”
Pima Fire Department Training Officer Lavan Taylor was instrumental in the effort to get the new truck and led a fundraising effort that included the department’s “Big Splash Bash” at the Pima Pool, which raised about $8,300.
The fundraising effort also helped the department secure a $60,000 grant from the United Way of Graham County.
The new firetruck should be delivered to the town in mid-December to January, according to Taylor.
