NOAA's party boat

[spence]

Originally Posted by buckman

Yes that's the point Spence... it would be cheaper to build new houses when they burn. And the houses would be better

Is it really? Your story didn't say anything about the fire department not needing a new truck...if anything it was an ironic tale, but not much more.

I'd think that in a rural area the local volunteer fire department probably serves many different towns. I do know a thing about fire trucks and even the basic ones are pretty expensive, most are customized for the local municipality. 400 grand doesn't even get you anything fancy...

So was this fire truck a needless accessory, pushed upon the people of Maine by radically liberal central planners? Or did the Federal Government help a rural area better prepare for their emergency services with an expense not easily justified with meager local tax dollars?

-spence

[buckman]

Originally Posted by spence

Is it really? Your story didn't say anything about the fire department not needing a new truck...if anything it was an ironic tale, but not much more.

I'd think that in a rural area the local volunteer fire department probably serves many different towns. I do know a thing about fire trucks and even the basic ones are pretty expensive, most are customized for the local municipality. 400 grand doesn't even get you anything fancy...

So was this fire truck a needless accessory, pushed upon the people of Maine by radically liberal central planners? Or did the Federal Government help a rural area better prepare for their emergency services with an expense not easily justified with meager local tax dollars?

-spence

It was just a funny story Spence. 400K fire truck sits in a garage while the house next door burns. Get it???? I was there when they held training for this truck. Even you would have found it mildly amusing. They were all wishing they had a parade in town,you now, if they had a town.

[Mr. Sandman]

OB has a larger fire fighting boat (that cost about 500K if I recall), twin jet drive diesel I think). It was used to fight the menemsha fire. (also alum. boat which I know has had some electrolysis problems.

Look I am not against the collective fire/police dept's having equipment like this, I support it. I just don't believe it is the federal governments job to create grants and give this stuff away to any town/every town who apply. Because we have 5 towns that support a year round population of 15K should we really have a need for multiple boats? If the island needs one, they should BUY own, and PAY for one with taxes, not be given one.

[likwid]

As it is, its use it or lose it.

So they used it.

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by likwid

As it is, its use it or lose it.

So they used it.

I see plenty of this.
Our auto body shop fixes vehicles for a few different towns,
police, fire,dpw, building inspectors ect....
We have painted vehicles just for the sake of painting them, and after they get painted they get garaged back to doing nothing along with the guys who are employed by the towns !
Good for us when things are slow, but in my mind it's not right and a waste of tax dollars.
Most of the towns in my area are all about "Status" and got to have the newer & nice buildings & equipment than the next town.
My town has a beautiful new fire/police station.
The old one they tore down for no reason was pretty damn nice also

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

I see plenty of this.
Our auto body shop fixes vehicles for a few different towns,
police, fire,dpw, building inspectors ect....
We have painted vehicles just for the sake of painting them, and after they get painted they get garaged back to doing nothing along with the guys who are employed by the towns !
Good for us when things are slow, but in my mind it's not right and a waste of tax dollars.
Most of the towns in my area are all about "Status" and got to have the newer & nice buildings & equipment than the next town.
My town has a beautiful new fire/police station.
The old one they tore down for no reason was pretty damn nice also

I looked at a 2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD crew cab.
LTZ package
Brand new plow
Leather/bluetooth/EVERYTHING
($50k? $55k? new roughly)

Town supervisor vehicle. REGISTERED to the town.

[piemma]

We have a snorkel fire truck in my town that can go 100 feet in the air. Does it matter that we don't have a building higher than 3 stories????