Vincent hopes for new fire truck

Published 5:21 pm Friday, March 13, 2009

The town of Vincent is working on a grant for money to buy a new fire truck. The grant will be turned in to The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA within the next 30 days, said Mayor Ray McAllister.

The grant would be for $265,000. Town officials should know within six months if the grant will come through.

A new fire truck is desperately needed to replace one of Vincent’s three fire trucks. The three the city currently has — a 1972 model, a 1981 model and a 1987 model — have an average age of 28-and-a-half years. If the city gets a new fire truck, the 1981 model will be retired, McAllister said.

“The ’81 was bought used, and it’s actually got more miles on it than the ’72,” he said.

McAllister said getting a new fire truck was an important goal for him to accomplish.

“I’ve been planning it ever since I’ve been in office,” he said. “The town has needed a new one for a while, but for a small town like that to come up with $265,000 is pretty tough.”

The mayor said that the grant isn’t a sure thing, but he plans to keep trying until the city is able to get a fire truck.

“There’s a lot of this particular grant that are applied for. (The government) has a limit. It’s a shot, that’s all, and you hope your application’s better than the next guy so you have a chance,” he said. “If you don’t get it, apply again next year.

Vincent is also considering other grants, but hasn’t decided on any particular ones to apply for, McAllister said.