Three rows of firefighters showed up to support the purchase of a new pumper for the city’s fire department. Aldermen voted to forego the bidding process for a pumper provided by Pierce Manufacturing, located in Appleton, Wis., at a total cost of $346,543. The fire department said it needed the new truck to replace one that has been in service since 1989. Pierce can deliver the new pumper sometime in April. It could take as long as nine months to get a similar product from another vendor.

Mayor Bob Freeman said the city has waited for six months to make sure it is in a position to buy the truck. Funds to purchase the truck will come from state funding for fire departments and from the county sales tax revenues. Freeman said the city already has approximately $100,000 which will be used to make the first two payments.

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