Seeley Fire Board purchases fire truck, found missing 81K

The Seeley Lake Rural Fire District Board held a special meeting last week to make two major purchases: a type one fire engine and three extraction tools - totaling $59,000.

Despite not budgeting for either expense, Fire Chief Dave Lane said the district has the money for the purchases because of previous budget errors that left more taxpayer money with the department than previously thought.

The board approved both purchases unanimously, with trustee Susan Monahan absent because of an illness.

The fire truck, a 2001 engine from the Missoula Rural Fire District, was originally listed for auction in June for $35,000. Lane said he wanted the engine, but couldn't afford the starting bid. The department has never before owned a type one engine.

He said he talked with Missoula Rural Fire Chief Christopher Newman, and asked to discuss it more if the engine didn't sell at auction. Two weeks later, Lane said the engine had not been sold and he convinced Newman to offer the vehicle for $20,000.

"I wanted to make sure before I came to the board and ask to do this that I had all the numbers correct," Lane said, using a math formula two weeks ago to double check numbers . "In the 2021 budget, there wasn't a formula, so I thought 'oh no we are in trouble.'"

But after using the formula to check the budget, Lane found an unbudgeted $81,486 of taxpayer money. Lane said the money sat there because of hand calculation errors. The added money carried over to each budget year unknowingly, Lane said.

Lane also added there will be an additional $30,000 sent to the district because of its work on the Colt Fire, netting more than $400,000 of funds for its current budget.

The purchase of the fire engine comes as two other vehicles, the chief's truck and an engine, need significant repairs. The Type One Engine would have a larger water tank, space for two more firefighters and more modern technology.

Trustee Connie Clark brought concerns about the age of the new engine, which is only six years younger than the main engine the department currently uses, while another engine from 2011 was up for auction.

Lane said the main barrier was the cost. The 2011 engine costs more than $100,000. With the addition of the type one engine, the department will use its older engine as a backup at Station #2.

The extraction tools were approved for purchase during the meeting. A mix of donations and the surplus money found by Lane will pay for three tools. Roughly $17,000 was raised by donation for the tools, meaning taxpayers covered the remaining $22,000.

"That's through local businesses as well as very generous people in the community," Lane said. "Since we started this project, the price has gone up a bit, about $4,000."

The three electric tools, which are stronger and lighter will replace older hydraulic tools. Lane said the old tools will remain on the backup engine when they purchase the new engine. The purchase was approved unanimously by the board.

The board will meet next on Sept. 19 for its regular board meeting at 6 p.m.