Enterprise Dispatch Blog

DASSEL, MN — The Dassel City Council approved the  bid for a new fire truck pumper tonight (Monday).

Previously, three bids came in for replacement of the Dassel
Fire Department’s old yellow 1981 General pumper truck, which is overdue to be
replaced, according to Fire Chief Dale Grochow.

Three bids were gathered during an extended bidding process recently, in a price range between $440,000 and $490,000.

The fire department chose, and recommended to the council, the truck offered by Custom Fire of Osceola, WI.

Two other bids were received as well, one from E-One of Ocala, FL., and another from R-NOW of West Allis, WI.

The lowest bid was from R-NOW; however, they did not follow the specifications listed on the bidding sheet.

The
truck offered by R-NOW isn’t for a stainless steel truck, but rather
aluminum. “They bid aluminum because it’s cheaper to build,” Grochow
observed.

Administrator
Myles McGrath noted that using an aluminum truck in Minnesota weather
is a bad idea. “Stainless steel has a lifetime warranty,” he said. “We
really expect these trucks to last for 25 years.” Aluminum has a
warranty for seven years.