Ripon Common Council Bylaws and Fire Engine

RIPON, Wis (WRPN)- The Ripon Common Council last night approved a change to the Ripon Area Fire District bylaws and the budget for the district, paving the way for the purchase of a fire engine.

City Administrator Adam Sonntag told the Council the change to the bylaws will make it easier for other municipalities to join or leave the fire district. He says the district would like to grow. The district has gotten smaller over the years. The City of Ripon being the largest municipality in the district provides 75 percent of its budget. The change to the bylaws also needs to be approved by other municipalities in the district and adopted by the District Board.

The purchase of a $998,000 fire engine from Pierce Manufacturing meant having to change the district’s budget for the year, which also needs approval from other District members and has to be adopted by the Fire District Board. The adopted budget would also need other District members’ approval.

If all those approvals are accomplished before the end of the month the district will save $13,000 on the cost of the engine.