By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Essex Council awarded the Request for Tender – Supply and Deliver One Single Axle Stock Custom Cab Pumper/Rescue 2025 (or newer) in the amount of $1,081,446.26, including non-refundable Harmonized Sales Tax to Dependable Emergency Vehicles during the December 1 meeting.
This came in around $200,000 underbudget, Jake Morassut, Director of Community Services, explained. In the Town of Essex, Essex Fire & Rescue is part of the Community Services Department.
That’s more than double the $78,000 Essex Fire Chief Jason Pillon estimated giving pre-budget approval would save.
With pre-budget approvals – which Morassut realizes is not a popular move with Council – “but this is one of those examples where we thought it was beneficial, because if we get out before everybody else puts their approved budgets out there, then we are not competing against those extra prices,” Morassut said. “This is one of those one where we jumped ahead and found those cost-savings for the municipality.”
In September, Council gave pre-budget approval of $1.3M for the replacement of Fire Engine 3, located at Station 3 in Harrow. This firetruck is scheduled for replacement in 2025.
When Chief Pillon approached Council about getting pre-budget approval on the firetruck in an attempt to save some money, he noted Essex Fire & Rescue is in need of a new Fire Engine at Station 3 in Harrow. It is the primary response vehicle at the Town of Essex’s busiest station.
It was reaching its 20th year, which is the end-of-life for a firetruck.
Engine 3 accounts for approximately 35% of all repair and maintenance costs at Station 3, which houses five apparatuses
