By Ray King
Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services Chief Shauwn Howell on Friday discussed some of the department’s needs, starting with a new ladder truck.
Speaking to the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, Howell said he has been researching the costs of a new truck and rough estimates put that cost at between $1 million and $1.5 million. Howell said Mayor Shirley Washington has encouraged him to go ahead and continue to pursue the idea.
Howell said he has also been working with vendors to try and locate a demo truck.
He said it is a long process to get a truck built from scratch, taking about a year and now, because of COVID, that process could be increased as the materials might not be as readily available.
Councilmember Glen Brown Jr., chairman of the Public Safety Committee, asked Howell what kind of savings the city could see if a demo truck could be located.
