Winona firemen received a needed new fire truck on Wednesday.
Winona Fire Chief Brad Mooneyham said the department needed a new truck to maintain the city’s current fire rating.
“The Rating Bureau requires us to replace, depending on the type of truck, but replace it every 15 to 20 years,” said Mooneyham. “That is to keep our fire rating through the State of Mississippi, which is 6 right now.”
The new vehicle, built by Sunbelt Fire of Fairhope, Ala., will be replacing a truck purchased in 2003, said Mooneyham, the older truck is capable of performing necessary duties but has reached the 20-year age limit.
The project is about two years in the making, beginning when Mooneyham first approached Mayor Aaron Dees in 2021 about the need for the $543,784 fire truck.
“This was one of the first things that Brad brought to me, and he said ‘we’re going to have to eventually replace this fire truck. I’m telling you ahead of time,’” said Dees.
At the time, the city did not have the funding to purchase the vehicle, they said.
“I immediately began to look for grants. We couldn’t find them, no matter what we did. Brad and I did a lot of filing for different things, and nothing panned out,” said Dees. “So, I picked up the phone, and I called Karl Oliver, House of Representatives.”
Dees said he asked Oliver if he could help with financial assistance for the project.
“A year passed, and I bugged the fire out of him,” said Dees.
While waiting for a response from Oliver, Dees and Mooneyham applied for a $50,000 Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program grant through Montgomery County with the State of Mississippi, which they obtained.
“It has to go through the county to get approved,” said Mooneyham.
During the 2023 session of the state legislators, Oliver was able to secure $450,000 to contribute to the cost of the new fire truck, Dees said.
In a letter to Dees, Speaker of the House Philip Gunn stated the funds may be used for costs associated with the purchase of the truck.
“The House of Representatives is proud to partner with you to make Winona a better place to call home,” Gunn stated.According to Dees, the city now has $500,000 to use in the purchase of the vehicle.
“The city is only going to be out $43,784,” said Dees.
He went on to say, “That $43,784 is being financed through the Bank of Kilmichael. That’s short-term or long-term loan. We can pay it off the next day or we can pay it off in three years to five years.”
The Winona Board of Aldermen approved the purchase of the new truck during a meeting on May 24, 2022.
Mooneyham said once Winona’s water system has been improved, the city’s fire insurance rating could drop from six to five.
“The lower the rating, the cheaper the [fire] insurance,” said Mooneyham.
Including the new truck, the Winona Fire Department has four trucks -- two certified and two backups, nine full-time firefighters and six volunteer firefighters, Mooneyham said.
