TRACY — The recent flooding in the Tracy area took its toll on firefighting equipment as well as businesses, homes and basement-stored items.

Six fire trucks were damaged by the flood, City administrator Kris Ambuehl said. Three of them potentially damaged beyond insurance coverage, he also reported.

Fire Chief Dale Johnson III told the Tracy City Council Monday night that he was proposing a change in a budget line-item to allow for him to replace three of his faulty trucks with two new trucks that will carry as many firefighters as the damaged ones. The council approved his request.

“There are two options,” Johnson had told the council, while showing a PowerPoint for illustration. “One is to wait out the insurance game and maybe get $35,000 to make repairs on a truck that is scheduled to be replaced next year. Two is to change the budget line-item and get newer trucks.”

Johnson went into the details of damages to the ’91 pumper truck, the 2001 Crew Cab with front hits and the 2004 International (#1117) due to the flooding.

“They’re currently not reliable, right?” Ambuehl asked.

“They are out of service,” Johnson said. “The keys are locked in my desk.”

He talked about truck No. 1118 being able to stay in town and respond to calls when the rest were out on another call. A new interface truck would be able to get out there on some rough terrain to fight fires, he said.

“Number 1116 and ’91 are scheduled to be replaced next year,” Johnson said. “I would not be doing the responsible part of my job if I spent money on a truck we’re going to get rid of. They can’t even get one of the parts they need to fix it.”

He said the replacement for No. 1116 should be ordered, but it will take a while to get built.

“I’ve heard someone (in a similar situation) say we’d be marrying ourselves to the truck if we spent money on one like that,” Ambuehl said in support of Johnson. “We’d feel obligated to keep putting money into it.”

“From what I’ve seen, I’m of the opinion that that one has to go,” council member Tony Peterson said.

Ambuehl added that the insurance didn’t cover the full face value of a replacement.

“We have to kick in some ourselves, anyway,” he said. “If we get $35,000 from insurance help, do we really want to invest it into these old trucks that will be replaced in a year or two?”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Mayor Pam Cooreman said.

“We all want to know about the money,” council member Jeri Schons said.

Johnson said two newer trucks would run approximately $550,000. Taking away the $35,000 from insurance and the trade-in or private sale value of approximately $150,000 and grants of $25,000-$50,000, “we’d have to get loans for about $250,000.”

He said there would also be chassis (new truck) payments running about $350,000, so ultimately, they’d have to get a loan on both trucks.

“Is any of the expense reimbursable through FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) because it was damaged because of the flood?” Schons asked.

“I’m speculating that we could probably get something,” Ambuehl said.

“Tonight, what do you need from us?” Schons asked Johnson.

“Your thoughts on this: Are we fixing and repairing or replacing?” Johnson said.

The timing on grants would also come into play, but the chassis had to be ordered now.

Ambuehl recommended giving Johnson permission to order the chassis, but not to let any truck leave the city without hearing from FEMA on what its going to do, which the council did unanimously.

“Three trucks for two also lowers the maintenance and insurance costs,” council member Dave Tiegs said.