Council approves nearly $18K in ARPA funds for fire equipment

Newton Fire Department will be receiving new personal protective equipment that will be paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funds.

City council members on April 15 approved the $17,990 in equipment purchases for the fire station. Project specifications were prepared by the fire department and vendors came in to demonstrate the products they represented, according to city documents.

The city received bids from turnout gear vendors and made comparisons through internet searches. Sandry Fire Equipment offered $3,557 per set, Dinges Fire Company offered $3,598 per set, Dank Fire Supply offered $3,875 per set and The Fire Store offered $4,345 per set.

While the city would normally recommended the lowest bid, staff noted the shorter lead times proved more valuable. As a result, staff asked council to consider approving the Dinges bid instead, which was only $41 higher and had a lead time of 90 to 100 days instead of 180 to 240 days.

Newton Fire Department will receive five sets of firefighter personal protective equipment from the Amboy, Illinois-based Dinges Fire Company.