The Poplar Bluff City Council unanimously approved the sale of 2016 fire truck during a special meeting Tuesday.
Two bids were received, according to Fire Chief Mike Moffitt, and the winner was an offer from Jon’s Mid America Fire Apparatus, Inc. for $251,000.
Moffitt noted the Poplar Bluff Fire Department purchased the truck it is selling from the company now buying it.
“I feel like we’re getting a good price out of it,” he told the board.
He later recalled the 2016 fire engine was bought for $450,000.
In the past, the PBFD has held replaced trucks in reserve. Moffitt explained the city will benefit more from selling this engine instead. The city ordered two new fire trucks last year, one using grant money, and selling the 2016 engine will help cover the cost of the second.
“I think it’s better to sell rather than keep it in reserve for 10 years where it’ll depreciate down to nothing,” Moffitt told the council.
The PBFD has sold older reserve trucks in the past. These were only valued at a few thousand dollars, according to Moffitt, but, “They did help the small communities who purchased the trucks.”
The fire department will still have three trucks in reserve after the sale, and will sell another one when the new engines arrive next year.