Central Platte Fire District Board member Mike Ashcraft kept his post Tuesday night, defeating challenger Rusty Townsend by a comfortable margin. Ashcraft garnered 578 votes to Townsend’s 443, retaining his seat for another six years. But that wasn’t the only big Central Platte news of the evening. At its monthly meeting at its downtown Platte City station, the Central Platte Fire a Board voted 2-1 to purchase a new pumper truck. The cost is approximately $653,000, $303,000 of which the Board will pay immediately from its cash assets total of a little more than $903,000. The Board will borrow the remaining $350,000 from Wells Bank at an interest rate of 2.9 percent over five years to pay the truck off. By paying the price in full at the time of purchase, the District will save about $27,000. The new truck, manufactured by Pierce, will replace a 28-year old pumper which District officials say will next year be outdated in the eyes of the Insurance Service Office, which could lead to a lower department rating. The new truck will be ready in about 10-11 months. The vote didn’t come without some heated discussion. Board member Andy Stanton, who voted against the purchase, said other Board members were using scare tactics about damaged ISO ratings and increased homeowners insurance for District patrons to justify the purchase. “If we don’t buy a new truck tonight, it’s insane to think our ISO rating will go up tomorrow,” he said. Ashcraft agreed, but with a caveat.

The Platte County Citizen