The North East Champaign County Fire Department will be getting a new pumper truck.
North Lewisburg Mayor Cheryl Hollingsworth updated village council on the department’s search for a new vehicle at Tuesday night’s meeting. The department, which operates out of the village municipal building, also covers the surrounding areas, including Woodstock.
Hollingsworth said the department’s 21-year-old pumper truck recently lost its ability to move water. Replacing the pump would have cost about $80,000 so the department decided to replace the entire vehicle.
The mayor said department officials have reached an agreement to lease a new pumper truck from the Sutphen company. The term of the lease will be 15 years with an annual cost between $40,000 and $50,000, Hollingsworth said.
Village Administrator Andy Yoder said the department was able to trim about $100,000 from the cost of the lease because it will be getting a demonstration model truck. He explained that this means the truck was used for about three months by the company to give presentations before being put into service.
Hollingsworth said the new truck should be received in April or May. Until that time, Sutphen is loaning the department a pumper truck, the mayor said.
In other business, council:
•Decided not to organize a Spring Cleanup Week because of the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
•Heard from North Lewisburg Police Chief Scott Bodey that the village is seeing a small increase in thefts related to warming weather. He urged residents experiencing such thefts to reported them to the department rather than simply writing about them on social media. He also reminded parents that there is a curfew for children in the village. Those under 16 years old must be home by 10 p.m., while those 16-17 have until 11 p.m.
•Agreed to let a local 4-H group install a pair of trash cans to collect aluminum cans at the village park. The club will recycle the cans and use the money for club expenses.
•Learned that the North Lewisburg Junior Baseball and Softball Association will be holding its park cleanup event on March 27 and 28. Team practices will start in early April and opening day is set for May 1.
•Approved a $15,000 proposal for the village’s annual chip-and-seal program.