Article Summary: The Casey Fire Protection District Board of Trustees authorized a major fleet upgrade by approving the $400,000 purchase of a new fire engine from a neighboring district. To fund the acquisition, the board secured a matching loan and approved the sale of an older rescue truck for $6,000.

Casey Fire Protection District Board Key Points:

• The board voted to purchase a new engine from the Smithville Area Fire Protection District for $400,000.

• A $400,000 loan with First Neighbor Bank was approved to finance the purchase.

• The board declared the district’s Rescue Truck #6 as surplus and accepted a $6,000 bid from Smekin Sires LLC.

• The series of votes took place during the board’s August 6 meeting.

CASEY, IL – The Casey Fire Protection District is set to acquire a new fire engine after the Board of Trustees approved the $400,000 purchase during its meeting on Wednesday, August 6. The acquisition is part of a significant modernization of the district’s emergency response fleet, funded by a new loan and offset by the sale of an older vehicle.

Following a brief public hearing on the district’s annual budget, the board moved decisively on the fleet upgrade. The trustees voted to purchase the new engine from the Smithville Area Fire Protection District. The motion, made by Trustee Billy Garver and seconded by Trustee Alan Hutton, was approved by the board.

To finance the substantial purchase, the board also approved taking out a $400,000 loan with First Neighbor Bank. Trustee Alan Hutton made the motion to secure the financing, which was seconded by Trustee Mike Sherwood and subsequently passed.

In a related move to manage the district’s assets, the board declared its existing Rescue Truck #6 to be surplus equipment. A motion to do so was made by Hutton and seconded by Sherwood. The board then reviewed a bid of $6,000 for the surplus truck from Smekin Sires LLC. Hutton made the motion to accept the offer, which was seconded by Trustee Terry Honselman and approved. The proceeds from the sale will help offset the cost of the new apparatus.

The fire chief noted in his report that staff is already in the process of getting quotes for a few items needed for the new truck.

The meeting was attended by trustees Billy Garver, Terry Honselman, Mike Sherwood, Alan Hutton, and Jason Garver. Trustee John Crouch was absent. These actions represent one of the most significant investments in public safety equipment for the district in recent years.