The Mehlville Fire Protection District moved proactively to get ahead of production delays at car factories, continuing through at least May, in order to replace an administrative vehicle on time and on schedule.
Don Brown Chevrolet, which holds the state contract for the Chevy Tahoes that the fire district typically uses for its administrative vehicles for chiefs, told the fire district in January that GM has suspended the builds of all state contract vehicles due to a global microchip shortage that is affecting all car companies. The shortage was worsened by multiple fires at semiconductor factories, including one in Japan in March. Production at certain plants has been halted for months due to the shortages.
With an uncertain financial future highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Mehlville Fire Protection District has a deficit budget for the first time in many years. The MFPD Board of Directors unanimously passed a $24.18 million budget for 2021 that has a $1.41 million deficit.
“Not a lot went our way when developing this budget, so you’re going to see kind of a recurring theme and that’s that ‘Hey, that didn’t go our way,’” said Chief Financial Officer Brian Bond at the Dec. 23 board meeting.
The fire district may have some tough financial challenges ahead, the CFO noted.
“While many factors worked against the 2021 budget, the good news is that residents of the district are receiving an enhanced level of service. 2022 will be a reassessment year which will hopefully provide additional tax revenue,” Bond said. “But it’s important for us to note that future budgets will be faced with similar challenges. Unfortunately the level of expenses we’re at,
The Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors unanimously approved the roughly $25,000 purchase of a new administrative truck Jan. 13, after Chief Brian Hendricks explained that the previous one was totaled in a wreck Jan. 8 on northbound Interstate 270 and Gravois Road.
“One of our maintenance guys who was involved in the accident was not hurt too terribly bad. They’re a little beat up, but he’s OK,” said Hendricks. “We have heard from AAA and the vehicle is officially totaled.”
The 2009 Chevrolet pickup truck was used to “move a multitude of things around the district” and was also used as the primary plow vehicle for snow removal and spreading salt, Hendricks noted.
The Mehlville Fire Protection District will be adding a new ambulance to its fleet after the Board of Directors, comprised of Treasurer Bonnie Stegman, Secretary Ed Ryan and Chairman Aaron Hilmer, unanimously approved a bid with Osage Ambulances.
The district was due to purchase a new ambulance as part of its apparatus replacement plan, Chief Brian Hendricks said at the Nov. 18 board meeting.
The new ambulance will cost $270,406, which is slightly less than what the district had originally budgeted, in part because the district is adding onto an order with St. Charles County. The ambulance will be similar to the other ambulances the district always orders, however the new ambulance will have a Ford 550 chassis, while the rest of the district’s fleet ride on a 450 chassis.