By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
The Great Bend City Council ran head-on into the current economic problems of inflation and supply shortages during their meeting Monday night at City Hall. On a four-to-three vote, they agreed to purchase a fully equipped Ram 5500 truck for the Great Bend Fire Department for $84,828. That was the lowest price available from Marmie Motors for the truck which will be customized with a service bed.
Last May, the council agreed to purchase the same truck for around $77,000. But that price was based on vehicles purchased at a government fleet rate. Since then, Marmie Motors learned that the Ram 5500 truck was not being offered at that rate. Tom Klug, who represented Marmie's at the meeting, told the council why that has happened.
“Unfortunately due to the ongoing industry-wide shortages in semi-conductor chips and other critical parts, the 2022 production allocation for government fleet will be extremely limited,” Klug said. “It was down to five vehicles and I’m afraid the 5500 was not on that list.”
Fire Chief Luke McCormick said the truck is needed to pull a new Tech Rescue trailer and a boat trailer and carry other equipment.
“In the past, we’ve tried to get by with using a brush truck or the Park Department to get that equipment to the scene,” he noted.
The new truck, which will be equipped with lights, sirens and decals, will be able to pull the trailers. It will also carry a portable system that will allow firefighters to fill air tanks on the scene of a fire instead of taking them back to the fire station to be filled.
Councilmembers Cory Urban, Kevyn Soupiset, Alan Moeder and Brock McPherson voted in favor of the purchase. Councilmembers Jolene Biggs, Lindsey Crom-Craven and Davis Jimenez voted against the purchase. Councilmember Natalie Towns was not present at the meeting. Mayor Cody Schmidt only votes when there is a tie vote between the council members.