Fred Warchol: A very expensive truck for rescuing cats

When a new car is purchased it comes with a steering wheel, engine and four tires, along with other necessities. After all, who would be foolish enough to purchase a vehicle with anything less?

The city of Atwater would! Last year, with the city manager’s oversight missing, a blank check was given to fire officials to buy a 100-foot ladder truck. Then, like a kid in a candy store, a figure of $1 million was promptly written in.

Now our shiny new million-dollar firetruck has arrived, but it’s useless until officials can come up with $81,237 for fire hoses, axes and other equipment. The problem is, there is little money available.

The general fund is in debt by $5.3 million and the recently passed public safety tax fund is nearly bone dry. The nightmare continues as the “million-dollar baby” requires two additional firefighters to operate. That means more costs.

It’s not a total loss. The new ladder truck can still lead Atwater’s 4th of July Parade and rescue cats and weasels from trees.

This story was originally published January 12, 2015 at 11:23 AM with the headline "Fred Warchol: A very expensive truck for rescuing cats."