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The Bad Axe Area Fire Department is moving ahead with plans to purchase a new fire truck and wants the municipalities it serves to help pay for it. Above, a Bad Axe Area Fire Department truck takes part in the 2022 Memorial Day parade. (Tribune file photo)

Bad Axe Area Fire Department.

The Bad Axe Area Fire Department is moving ahead with plans to purchase a new fire truck and wants the municipalities it serves to help pay for it.

The truck will cost more than $1 million. Brian Shuart, a member of the fire department's board, said a new truck is something the board has discussed over the last several years

"In my opinion, this is a vehicle that's needed,” Shuart said. “The other one that we’re replacing is quite old and (is becoming) obsolete. The new vehicle will have a 30-year life. And on the recommendation of Mr. Hunt and former Chief Rapson, I do think it's prudent for the city and fire department to proceed at this time."

The department has been setting aside $60,000 annually in its budget in order to accumulate money for the initial down payment, as well as servicing debt going forward.

Fire Chief John Hunt has proposed that Bad Axe, Colfax and Verona townships contribute additional money as part of a larger down payment to eliminate paying any interest on the truck. Each municipality will decide for itself whether to go ahead with it.

Bad Axe's city budget has funds in it for accommodating a new fire truck purchase.

Shuart also said the department's in-development training facility would be located next to its headquarters along Hanselman Street.

The concrete the facility will rest on will cost the department $11,000, but everything else has been covered through COVID relief funds.

Councilman Joel Harrison noted that Bad Axe was the only Huron County municipality to receive such grants. The money in question came from a First Responder Training Recruitment Grant program, of which the department received $107,435 of the more than $5 million distributed. 

Robert Creenan has been a news reporter for the Huron Daily Tribune since April 2019.   Prior to arriving at the Tribune, Robert was a news reporter with the Cortland Standard in Cortland, New York.    He has a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism with a creative writing minor from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.   He is a fan of soccer, Buffalo sports, bike riding, and esports.