South Brunswick Voters To Decide On Purchase Of New Fire Truck

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — South Brunswick Township Fire District #2 needs a new fire truck. A special election will be held on Dec. 16 to ask registered voters to approve the purchase of a new aerial tower ladder fire truck.

The current tower ladder is aging and has become increasingly expensive to maintain and operate, officials said. The current truck has required over $66,000 in repairs since 2004, including nearly $18,000 in 2021 alone.

The Commissioners will be asking for authorization to purchase the replacement fire truck not exceeding $1,950,000 and to secure lease-purchase financing.

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“Although we take a great deal of pride in keeping our equipment in top condition, our current aerial is a very specialized piece of apparatus that has required a great deal of maintenance,” Monmouth Junction Fire Chief Scott Smith said in a statement.

“The new truck will be easier to maintain, resulting in less downtime and lower maintenance costs. It will weigh less, be more maneuverable, have greater reach, and be quicker and easier to set-up and operate than our current aerial, increasing our efficiency and saving valuable minutes at a fire when every second counts.”

The Board of Fire Commissioners will utilize $1.1 million of existing reserve funds to reduce the financing costs. Lease-purchase financing will not exceed $850,000, the department said.

No tax increase will be proposed due to the lease purchase. Currently, the fire district’s tax rate is amongst the lowest in Middlesex County and in New Jersey, the department said.

“Over the last year, a committee of six firefighters from the Fire Department have worked to develop specifications for the new truck, dedicating well over 100 man-hours on the project,” the department said in a statement.

“The committee recommends the purchase of a 100-foot mid-mount aerial tower ladder, custom-built by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisconsin.”

The election will be held from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Monmouth Junction Fire Station, located at 573 Ridge Road. Mail-in ballots will be sent out to registered voters that have previously requested them from the County.

South Brunswick Township Fire District #2 covers the Monmouth Junction, Dayton and Deans sections of the township.

Once voter approval is received, and financing bids are reviewed, the Commissioners will seek approval from the New Jersey State Local Finance Board to conduct a lease-financing purchase. If approval is granted by the Local Finance Board, the Commissioners can enter into an agreement to purchase the new truck. Construction and delivery of the truck will take approximately 16 months.

Residents who have questions regarding the special election are encouraged to visit the fire district’s website at www.sbfd2.com or call 732-329-0250 for additional information.

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