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WILKES-BARRE — The city plans to spend up to half million dollars on police and fire department equipment and vehicle replacements.
The spending requests were presented Tuesday night at city council’s work session and will be voted on at Thursday’s public meeting.
The largest expense will be $251,112 for the fire department, including $169,731 for a new ambulance from Keystone Emergency Vehicles in Dover. The ambulance purchase includes the transfer of a used ambulance from the city.
Wilkes-Barre Fire Department Chief Jay Delaney said other than the ambulance, the purchases are routine. All of the costs will be paid through the city’s Community Development budget.
“Community Development Block Grant funding is really one of the only capital sources the fire department has to obtain new equipment,” Delaney said. He estimated it cost approximately $5,000 to outfit each firefighter. To cover all of them, the department staggers the annual purchases.
The requests for this year include:
• $4,210 for FAST boards from FAST Rescue Solutions, Flourtown.
• $25,000 for turnout gear from Susquehanna Fire Equipment Co., Dewart.
• $6,752 for firefighter gear racks from DS Machine LLC, Gordonville.
• $5,920 for a fire hose from Susquehanna Fire Equipment Co.
• $4,288 for miscellaneous equipment from Friedman Electric, Wilkes-Barre.
• $9,266 for miscellaneous equipment from Witmer Public Safety Group, Coatesville.
• $25,945 for 19 self contained breathing apparatus cylinders, 18 rechargeable battery packs and one self contained breathing apparatus from Susquehanna Fire Equipment Co.
The police department, meanwhile, requested five new 2019 Ford Police sport utility vehicles from New Holland Auto/Kovatch Ford. Financing packages offered through Community Leasing Partners, a division of Community First National Bank in Manhattan, Kan., vary and depend upon whether the city makes a down payment and chooses between a four- or five-year term. The vehicles have a total cost of $201,973.
Council also will be asked to vote on three appointments to the Parking Ticket Appeals Board for two-year terms:
• Linda Joseph, of Blackman Street.
• Sam Troy, of Joseph Lane.
• Former police chief Marcella Lendacky, of Custer Street.