Council lowers price on old ladder truck

During a brief meeting on Monday night, the Vandalia City Council agreed to lower the price on the ladder truck formerly used by the city’s volunteer fire department.
The price on that ladder truck, which was purchased in 1995 and used from 1996 until being replaced in 2013, was initially $90,000, and Gottman suggested lowering the price to $75,000.
The city’s code enforcement officer, Zac Kopp, who is also a volunteer fireman, was directed by Gottman to work on the sale of the truck, and Kopp told aldermen on Monday that a professional salesperson recommended lowering the price by $15,000.
Also at Monday’s meeting, Gottman commended the city’s public works department for handling five major water line breaks since Christmas, including one at Seventh and School streets on Monday, when the temperature was near zero.
“These guys do a great job,” the mayor said. “I appreciate what they do.”
Also on Monday:
• Gottman said that the city is still working on something being done with the former home of Walmart on Veterans Avenue.
“It’s an eyesore,” Gottman said, explaining that he would like to see it “sold, torn down or donated.”
To this point, there has been no response from the building’s owner, Stan Kroenke, whose holdings include the Los Angeles Rams.
• Gottman reported that as of Monday, the local chamber of commerce is now known as the Greater Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, with other communities in the county now being included in the organization.
• The council approved the purchase of a variable frequency drive for the water department’s booster station on Randolph Street.
The drive is being purchased from The Pump Shop in St. Louis at a cost of $7,275. Additional work will cost $2,500. Huskey said that Ameren will provide a reimbursement of $7,500-$8,000.
• Gottman announced that the developers of Witness Distillery hope to have their restaurant open in time for Valentine’s Day.