The Warsaw Common Council will have the final vote on a $239,740 purchase for the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, but the request was given the initial nod of approval by the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety today.

Fire chief Mike Brubaker is asking to purchase new air packs and air bottles for the department. Current air packs need to be replaced by 2015 when the warranty expires, but Brubaker started getting quotes on new air packs and air bottles now which, in the long run, will be a better solution for the city and the fire department.

If the city opted to pay for upgrading current air packs to bring them up to current regulations, the cost would be nearly $800 per pack, or a total of about $40,000. But upgrading the packs would not extend the warranty. Also, if the department opts to purchase new air packs and 100 air cylinders now, TJ Nowak Supply Co. Inc. would provide the department with 50 free cylinders with the purchase of 50.

“We could do an upgrade but continue to carry the air packs and pay $62,500 for air bottles. That would cost $102,500 with air packs that have no warranty and to me that is not the best choice for us to go.”

If the city decides to purchase 50 new air packs now at a cost of $202,000 and 50 air cylinders for $31,250, TJ Nowak Supply Co. Inc. will give an additional 50 air cylinders at no cost.

“I know that’s a lot of money on the table to be able to purchase new air packs, but right now our packs don’t have what we call a buddy breather system either,” said Brubaker. The buddy breather system would allow firefighters to share air through a simple hose connection from pack to pack in the event a firefighter run out of air while inside a burning structure.

The full common council will hear the proposal Monday night and likely vote on the purchase during that 7 p.m. meeting.

Also at the B.O.W. meeting today, bids were opened for 2013 street department supplies including limestone, flowable backfill, ready mix concrete, bituminous materials, concrete curbing and concrete flatwork. Bidders were G&G Hauling & Excavating, IMI, Aggregrate Industries, Kuert Concrete, Brooks Construction, NiBlock, Phend & Brown and Sterling Contracting.

Bids will be awarded at the 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 16, B.O.W. meeting.

A separate bid for pipe lining was awarded to Pro Form Pipe Lining at a cost of $149,965.

Also approved was:

• A contract for the Light Up the Night event at Central Park for $200 to bring in Santa and Mrs. Claus.
• A contract with TruGreen Tree and Shrub Service to tend to trees and shrubs in Central Park, Kiddieland and McKinley Park. Total cost is $5,345.
• A contract with Quine Freeman Heating & Air Conditioning to install 8 new heaters in the Warsaw Police Department garage. Total cost is $16,760.