Jerry Morawski must have been a very good boy this year because Santa Claus brought him an early Christmas present last week ? a brand new, shiny red fire truck.
This is no Tonka; it’s the real thing, complete with working hoses and flashing lights. Batteries were included.
The Addison Township Fire Department is the proud owner of 2012 tanker truck built by CSI Emergency Apparatus, based in Grayling, Michigan.
‘It holds 3,000 gallons,? said Fire Chief Morawski, who noted it was important to him to have a truck built right here in Michigan. ‘That’s 500 gallons more than our old one.?
The new truck replaces a 31-year-old tanker truck that Addison had purchased from Oxford back in 2001. Addison’s now in the process of selling it for $14,000.
Not only is the new tanker able to hold more water, it also has a greater pumping capacity. It can pump 1,500 gallons per minute versus the old one’s 1,000-gallon-per-minute rate.
The tanker cost $260,000, which is $38,000 less than the department originally budgeted for it. Morawski said they were able to eliminate a lot of unnecessary items, which significantly lowered the cost.
When asked how long this truck should last Addison, the chief replied, ‘Every bit of 25 years.?
Addison was able to purchase the tanker thanks to a 0.75-mill property tax it levies exclusively for capital expenses as opposed to operations.
‘We couldn’t have gotten this without the backing of the residents,? Morawski said. ‘Thank you to all the residents. It wouldn’t be possible without them.?
The truck is part of Addison’s on-going efforts to not only keep the community safe, but also continue lowering its Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings.
‘Every step we make forward will help in the future,? Morawski said.
Right now, Addison Township has a Public Protection Classification (PPC) of 5 and the Village of Leonard is considered a Class 3.
Leonard’s Class 3 is the lowest rating in the state for an area that lacks fire hydrants, according to the chief.
PPC ratings are used by the ISO to determine the level of fire protection in communities. The numerical grading system ranges from Class 10 (the worst possible score) to Class 1, which is the best possible score.
ISO classifications play an important role in the decisions many insurance companies make affecting the availability and price of property insurance. PPC ratings are the foundation on which insurance companies build their premium schedules.