Cornbelt Fire Department saves taxpayer dollars by remodeling 22-year old engine

It may not be a question constituents hear from taxing bodies often. 

Is there a way to serve the public while saving taxpayers’ money? 

With a consistent and reliable funding source, such as property tax dollars, there is always money coming into any taxing district, so, outside of working within the means of any fiscal year,  it may not even be a question governing bodies think to ask.

But, it was a necessary question as the Cornbelt Fire Department approached the financial commitment needed: $700,000 of their $1.5 million annual budget, to replace the 22-year old engine that was purchased with a grant in 2000. 

“It was due to be replaced,” Cornbelt Fire Chief John Koller said. “That’s a kind of a traditional fire service thing; there’s just this lifespan on apparatus. That’s how it’s just been looked at for years. And we kind of just went, “Why?”.

While Engine No. 52 has traditionally been a “backup” truck for the Cornbelt District, the group talked about what it would take to make the apparatus usable in day-to-day operations. 

“Think of it like your home,” Koller said. “You got that well-built, brick house, that’s wonderful. It just needs to be more functional and updated.”

Upfront, the remodeled engine, with all the bells and whistles, came in at $200,000.

“So really at a savings of about a half a million dollars, to the community, to our taxpayers and us, quite honestly,” Koller said. “We can take that money and do these other things that we need to do in order to be able to respond the way we need to respond.”

In the last five years, the Cornbelt Fire Department has had a 50-percent call increase. Some of that spike comes from a growing population within the Mahomet and Seymour communities. The other factor is, nationally, rural fire departments are responding to more calls as the services offered expand just as the territories they cover do too. 

“We’re here to answer emergency calls,” Koller said. 

With its small wheelbase and only 20,000 miles on the odometer, Engine 52 gives the Cornbelt Fire Department a vehicle that will maneuver through rural areas with ease. And, with the input from every member of the Cornbelt team, and a head-to-tow remodel, Engine 52 is now equipped with all the functionality needed to be the first truck out of the building when a call comes in. 

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“This truck notoriously had 10 pounds of stuff in a five pound bucket,” Operations Chief Mitch Rolson said.  “And we wanted to go a totally opposite model of that and have stuff very well organized in a place for a specific reason. It’s easy to use. You don’t have to move six things to get to the one thing you need all the time.”

Battery-operated equipment, like the Jaws of Life, are in the front bumper, giving rescue crews easy access to time-sensitive tools. A new throttle pedal helped make the engine comfortable to drive, and new seating arrangements were made for the three-person crew to get everyone and everything out of the door within the best time. 

“We tried to think of every little thing,” Rolson said. “We mounted some tools in the cab so when you get off the truck, you don’t have to go to the compartment and get your tools. You can come off with a tool in your hand, ready to go to work. 

“So much about the fire service, how we train and how we set up apparatus, where it’s parked, it’s all about efficiency. We want to be as efficient as we possibly can.

“That adds up down the line to quicker times putting the fire out.”

Firefighters know that a compartment full of tools to dig through also leads to wasted time in an emergency situation. Each section of Engine 52 is now purposeful: tools in the optimized location, secured with precision and ease of reach. 

Engine 52’s low-hose bed also gives firefighters access to the 10,000 gallon tank in a way that the larger apparatus Cornbelt owns does not. 

Those details were labored over as every member of the team brought a different experience and circumstance into the decision-making. Not only is the custom paint job eye-catching, new LED lights, reflective striping and light bars provide an additional layer of safety as the public encounters the emergency vehicle. 

“This truck has been around for a long time,” Rolson said. “So you catch some of the older guys being excited and remembering what it was like and then you get the newer guys because it’s got a more modern look.”

“We try to be ultra-inclusive in our department,” Koller said. “My opinion doesn’t matter anymore than the person that’s been here a year.”

With decades of experience, Koller’s wisdom is sought, and that goes down to his leadership in making sure everyone in the department feels valued. 

“We have very talented young folks who are very smart, very driven and want to be involved,” Koller said. 

That vision doesn’t just start at the drawing board, though. Koller’s team spends about 500 hours training each month. 

This is where the department hones in on their motto, “Always First.”

While the general public may be taken by Engine 52’s red and black exterior, members of the Cornbelt Fire Department will be quick to point out their adage on the top of the windshield. 

“It tells you about department pride and ownership,” Koller said. 

Since day one, taking on the role of Chief at Cornbelt in 2015, Koller’s focus has been a well-trained, people-focused team that continues to grow in a way that educates the community while still expanding services, like the addition of two ambulances and an engine company to respond to emergencies in adequate time.

Koller said the district will continue to look at ways to save taxpayer dollars as they look to purchase a multi-use engine. If everything falls into place, Cornbelt may be able to sell two older vehicles, which would cost $2.2 million to replace. Instead, Cornbelt hopes to purchase a multi-use truck, that not only aligns with the needs of the community and Cornbelt’s rescue and firefighting methods, but will save the taxpayer about $400,000. 

Engine 52 has been in service for a month. Koller said the community has really responded positively to the “new” engine that is actually 22-years old.