A group of Mohawk residents that worked diligently to bring a potential ladder truck purchase to the taxpayers believe now is the time to consolidate with other fire departments saying the village cannot take on anymore debt.
The group, calling themselves the Mohawk Citizens for Open Government, collected 481 signatures on a petition to bring the purchase of a proposed aerial ladder truck to a public vote. The group needed 20 percent of the village population to bring the vote to the people, or 335 signatures.
Robert Wright of the citizens group said 90 percent of the people he and other members talked to had no idea the village was looking to buy a truck.
“We weren’t saying we were for or against [buying the truck], but we wanted the people to be able to vote on something,” said Wright.
Wright said no one in the group is against the fire department, and he commended them for their service, but he questioned whether the village really needs a ladder truck.
“There are six [ladder] trucks in the valley now. Mutual aid is doing a great job,” said Wright, referring to a system where area departments provide aid for other departments.
He doesn’t believe another ladder truck is needed when Herkimer and Ilion’s trucks are available through mutual aid and are in such close proximity.
Wright also pointed out there are no definite costs yet known with the projected purchase. He contends that a purchase could double the village debt.
In July, the Mohawk Village Board of Trustees passed a resolution to bond or get a tax-exempt lease on a fire apparatus costing up to $500,000.
This means the village could secure a vehicle and spend up to $500,000, but the village doesn’t have to spend that much. If there were no petition, solely the village board would be voting on the issue.
After going out to bid, the village secured three bids. The first bid was from Tyler Fire Equipment for a 2008 Pierce costing $574,718. The second was from Command Fire Apparatus for a used 1999 Suftphen Quint for $385,000. The third was bid by Northern Fire Equipment for $459,657.
Information the group secured from the village through the Freedom of Information Act showed if a new truck cost $500,000, the average tax bill in the village would rise over $80.
Based on a truck costing $400,000, with a six percent rate increase and a 10-year lease or bond, the tax rate would rise $1.17 to $16.77 and the average tax bill would increase $70.20 according to the information. The village would pay around $64,000 in principal cost and interest per year.
Richard Steele of the citizens group believes this is too much debt for the village to take on.
He points to several items the village is already paying off or beginning to, such as the current water project, which the village will begin making over $150,000 annual payments next year, a sanitary sewer project, where the village pays $40,000 annually, and other equipment purchases where the village pays over $100,000 annually.
Steele also said there are other impending costs on the horizon as well, such as an ice control project for Fulmer Creek and a proposed repair of a Columbia Street culvert.
Mohawk also received an offer from the village of Ilion where Ilion’s ladder truck would be used whenever the service is needed for $12,000 a year. Under this option, three Ilion firefighters would come with the truck, but only the village of Mohawk would be covered, not German Flatts. The Mohawk Fire Department also covers the German Flatts Fire District.
Steele would like to see a regional approach to the situation and see some fire departments consolidate.
“The county has to step up and take note. We won’t need all this equipment, it’s time to share services,” said Steele.
Steele said many people in Mohawk are on fixed incomes and with higher taxes from the county, state and school looming, now is not the time to add to the village’s debt.
He said the village has to understand it needs to cut down on costs as the state government is trying to do.
“This is opposite of what the state government is saying. We need to consolidate,” said Wright.
Chris Jackson of the citizens group mentioned how the village already has consolidated some services with other municipalities, such as police chief and codes officer.
“We need to do a little bit more,” said Jackson.
She said when going around with the petition, the biggest thing she heard involved the emotions of rivalries with other municipalities.
“We have to get out of the sandbox,” said Jackson.
She also questioned how the truck would be transported to Mohawk and at what cost.
The special election will be Monday, with the polls open at the village office building from noon to 9 p.m.