Sunset Beach to consider fire truck bid waiver

Sunset Beach Town Council will consider a waiver for competitive bids for a new fire ladder truck at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, April 7.

The seller, E-ONE of Ocala, Fla., has extended an offer for the town to piggyback onto a previous bid contract from the city of Rochester, N.H., to buy a 100-foot platform ladder truck for the town fire department for $785,000.

Sunset Beach Fire Chief Chris Barbee said the town has the potential to save nearly $100,000 on the purchase price.

The truck is currently under production and should be finished around the end of May.

Barbee said his department has determined a 75-foot ladder truck like the ones in the neighboring towns of Calabash and Ocean Isle Beach are “just not making the reach” at assorted condominium buildings in Sunset Beach.

He said that’s why the town started looking for a 100-foot truck, which also will mean maximum points for the town’s ISO rating.