The Mayville Fire Department’s request for a new engine truck was rejected by village officials. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon

MAYVILLE — Village leaders decided that a new fire truck is simply too expensive for local taxpayers.

During their meeting, Mayville Village Board members would not approve a resolution to purchase a new engine truck from Four Guys Fire Trucks, which would have cost $1,209,963. The truck would have taken three years to be built.

The Mayville Fire Department has three trucks — a ladder truck, a rescue and the engine. The 1996 engine truck has multiple issues.

Chief Ryan “Rusty” Hardenburg said they’ve been looking for used ones but haven’t found anything suitable. The new vehicle would hold 1,000 gallons of water, using a front suction for water.

“This way you can pull up to a pond, a lake, or something like that,” he said.

Before the vote, Tom Carlson, who is a councilman for the Chautauqua Town Board, agreed that it is a lot of money, but noted that the fire department does a lot for the community. “Football games you need a standby,” he said. “You need a standby down here (in Lakeside Park) for certain events. Roads get closed. … At 2 in the morning you’ll see them directing traffic.”

Marty Bova, who previously served as mayor, agreed that buying the truck is a difficult decision, but said the request should be carefully evaluated.

“Consider the amount of hours these firefighters put in and the amount of money that having a volunteer fire department is saving this municipality on an annual basis,” he said.

Bova noted that if the fire department’s equipment gets too old, the Insurance Service Office’s ratings will change, which will cause homeowners insurance rates to increase.

Another resident agreed and said she would rather pay more in taxes than higher insurance rates.

“The increase in insurance verses the increase in taxes, which is more about protecting everyone, I would rather as a taxpayer put the money there,” she said. “It’s not just about buying a vehicle. It’s about buying protection and continuing to support the village and the other municipalities that we go to.”

Treasurer Jennifer Obert was asked about the impact to the village budget if the purchase was approved. She said it all depends on how it is financed. “No matter what option you take, it’s definitely going to put us over the 2% tax cap,” she said.

Trustee Dan Roush said his concern is that the truck purchase would use up all of the fire department’s reserves for future needs. “You guys won’t have any money. Let’s say the ambulance needs something, now we have to borrow money again and we have to hit up taxpayers again,” he said.

Mayor Rick Syper agreed. “This is fiscally unsound decision making. … It’s not smart, money-wise,” he said.

Syper asked if any trustees backed the resolution, to introduce it for a vote. No one would, so he said the resolution “dies.”

Trustee Mark Perry said this isn’t the end of the topic. “The fact of the matter is we’ve got more homework to do. This fire truck may go but they’re going to need something down the road,” he said.

Perry said he spoke with a representative with the ISO and said even if the truck is put out of service, homeowners’ insurance rates won’t go up.

Perry also said that the ISO representative believes that there will be more used equipment going up for sale in the future, which may be suitable for Mayville’s fire department.

At the end of the meeting, Carlson said it may be time for the four departments in the town of Chautauqua, which include Mayville, Hartfield, Dewittville and Chautauqua, to consider merging.

Scott Cummings, who is also a Chautauqua Town Board member, said while the town board supports merging departments, each fire department has its own governing board and it would be up to each of them to decide if they want to merge or not.

“I believe the town of Chautauqua is more than willing to help negotiate and help the departments work together, because it needs to happen,” he said.