A new ladder truck for the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department could be on the horizon pending the outcome of Lafayette Gatling's proposal to buy the theater.

Fire Chief Gary Corbet told council during its work session this evening he would ask American LaFrance, which is building a spec truck, for a 30 day extension on giving word the city will buy the new ladder truck. The company has said it needs an answer in 60 days on the city's intention to replace the current KME ladder truck, which has been plagued by mechanical problems ever since it came into the city's ownership.

Interim City Manager Ed Wyatt told council American LaFrance is willing to offer the city a lease back deal with eight or 10 year financing. “It's nothing like a 20-year long term loan. We take very seriously the cost of this.”

The ladder truck the company is making is not a custom truck like the current ladder truck, which is used sparingly because of safety concerns. “The good news,” Wyatt said, is there is a company which buys old fire trucks and has sent a letter of intent stating it will buy the KME.

“In a perfect world, we need to replace both trucks,” Corbet said, referring to the KME and a 1990 pumper truck the fire department uses regularly.

The $120,000 the broker, Brindlee Mountain, is willing to pay for the KME could be used for the first year's payment on the new ladder truck and a portion of the second year payment — American LaFrance is offering a one year deferral on the first payment — or could be used as a down payment on the $636,606 price tag of the new truck.

American LaFrance says the city could have the new ladder truck by May or June.

Stephen Anderson, a mechanic for Redwine's Garage in Garysburg knows the KME intimately, from the time the cab broke off to the more recent problems with the truck's brakes. “I've never seen a truck with as many problems with brakes as that truck has.”

The truck, weighing in at 62,000 pounds, is just too heavy, Anderson said. “It's been an ongoing struggle. It was to the point when I saw it coming into the yard I knew what I was going to be working on.”

Corbet said there were significant problems reported with 1997-1998 KME models.

The truck's turning radius is so bad that businesses have had to alter their plans to accommodate it. “It takes a small football field to turn this thing around.”

Deputy Chief Stacey Coggins told council there have been numerous problems with the throttle.

“It's become a comfort issue,” Corbet said. “The guys are not comfortable with it. They don't trust it much.”

Anderson said the fire department has had the wheels catch on fire while bringing it in for service. “The brakes on it are not for the size of that truck. The braking system, I wouldn't trust it. I've put it together numerous times. I wouldn't trust it.”

Under the proposed financing plan the city could lease the truck for eight years or 10 years at 3.7 percent interest, Finance Director MeLinda Hite said. At eight years the annual payments would be $92,254 with a lease back of $306,000. The 10-year option would mean $77,053 in annual payments with a $278,000 lease back.

Now the question is what to do and Mayor Emery Doughtie brought the issue of waiting to make sure Gatling's offer to buy the theater goes through.

“We are guardedly confident this will go through,” Wyatt said, explaining after the meeting there was still no indication Gatling would back off the deal.