Snowflake Fire Chief Pat Hancock received approval for an invitation to bid and specifications for bids on a new type 3 interface fire engine from the town council during a special meeting held March 6.
Hancock reported that the Snowflake Fire Department received a $325,000 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to purchase the new fire engine.
FEMA will pay $308,750 and Snowflake’s five percent share is $16,250. “The big thing here now is we’re thinking this truck might go over,” said Hancock. “We won’t know until we get the bids in.”
Assistant Fire Chief Dale Call pointed out that in talking to FEMA officials, he was told that the amount did not include tax.
Chief Hancock explained that the FEMA grant process requires that specifications be developed sufficiently general in nature so as not to favor any particular supplier. Hancock advised the council that he, Dale Call and David Call worked on the specs, noting, “Dale went over these and over these to make sure they were generic.” Hancock also noted that Dale Call did most of the work on the grant.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Chief Hancock.
Town Manager Paul Watson explained that equipment is an option, as well as the possibility that if they are one of the first to go to bid, they could possibly go back to the grantor for extra money.
Mayor Kelly Willis moved to approve the invitation to bid and specifications for bid on a new type 3 interface fire engine with the following recommended changes to the bid package: move the bid open date to Wednesday, April 4, from Monday, April 2; include a statement that the sales tax will be paid directly to the state by the Town of Snowflake; and have some form of statement that says the bids are expected by April 4, but won’t be reviewed until the April 10 council meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
