By Rich Pollack
In the market for a used fire truck for special events or as your latest home and garden accessory?
Highland Beach might have a deal for you.
Town commissioners last month gave town officials the green light to send the town’s used ladder truck off to Tampa, where it will be auctioned to the highest bidder.
But before you break out your checkbook, here’s something you should know: The 104-foot-long ladder truck is 20 years old and, well, not in the best of shape.
In fact, during the last five years the truck has been broken down and out of service 43 percent of the time, almost half as long as it’s been working.
Still, the auction house in Tampa handling the public sale of the truck says the aging fire apparatus could end up selling for $35,000 to $50,000.
Not all of that money, however, would go to the town since the auction house takes a percentage of the sale price and will also be reimbursed for towing the truck to Tampa.
For years, Highland Beach town leaders have been wrestling with what to do with the aging fire truck as well as with an aging rescue vehicle it owns.
The town, which has its own fire station but has a contract with Delray Beach Fire-Rescue for staffing, considered repairing the ladder truck, but it was determined that the cost of $32,000 for repairs to a fire truck built in 1994 was not financially prudent.
Delray Beach has been providing Highland Beach with a fire truck while the truck has been out of service and town commissioners look for a long-term solution.
“We have a fire truck in the fire house right now and we’ll always have a fire truck available,” Town Manager Beverly Brown said. “We’re negotiating with Delray for a contract that would include leasing a new fire truck and a rescue vehicle.”
The town is also exploring other options, including leasing equipment from other area departments. Complicating the process is Delray Beach’s continued consideration of contracting with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue for service in the future.
Commissioners have also discussed the possibility of purchasing a new ladder truck, although the estimated cost of between $900,000 and $950,000 has made that option less attractive.
Buying a new truck would need voter approval since the town requires a referendum on any expenses over $350,000. Voters in 2010 rejected the proposed purchase of a new truck, which then was expected to cost about $810,000.
The town’s contract with Delray Beach Fire-Rescue for staffing of the fire station and equipment goes through 2017.
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