Alderman Josh Jennings discusses the situation with the Jasper fire department’s finances at the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s June meeting.JASPER, Tenn. – Problems at the Jasper Fire Department with broken-down engines and equipment have caused a flurry of purchases in recent months, and that has led to confusion among city leaders about how to cover it all, too.
At the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s June meeting, Fire Chief Josh Huffstuddler said Engine 3 is back in service at full working capacity after repairs were made by Randall Brackett Fire Truck Repair in Rockmart, Georgia.
Engine 1 is now there for repairs estimated to cost between $15,000 and $17,000.
Huffstuddler, who was named co-fire chief along with Ryan Meeks in April, said he also had a bill for $22,117 for new turnout gear, including a $945 gas meter, from Tennessee Fire Equipment & Safety Supplies in Chattanooga that needed to be paid, but that was not the original vendor chosen for the purchase.
The original vendor, W.S. Darley & Co. in Itasca, Illinois, quoted a price of about $13,000 for ten sets of turnout gear, Mayor Paul Evans said.