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Moss Point's Central Fire Station is on Bellview Avenue. (Vivian Austin / Correspondent)
MOSS POINT, Mississippi -- Moss Point Fire Chief Clarence Parks said Wednesday the fire truck damaged during Hurricane Isaac is back in service, and a new fire truck is expected to be delivered by summer next year.
The Moss Point Board of Aldermen, on its consent agenda, approved a trip to Louisiana for the chief and a fire captain to retrieve the repaired truck, but the trip proved to be unnecessary.
Fire Chief Clarence Parks said that Ferrara Fire Truck Manufacturing Co. delivered the engine to the Moss Point Central Fire Station on Monday.
Two weeks ago, the board unanimously accepted the bid of the state contract price and approved the purchase of a fire truck for the Escatawpa Utility District Fire Department through Republic First National Leasing at 4.09 percent for 10 years.
The new pump engine is expected to cost about $350,000, the fire chief said.
"The delivery date is somewhere between six and seven months," said Parks. "It's a fire engine that holds 10,000 gallons of water. It's capable of pumping 1,250 gallons a minute."
The new truck will replace one that is over 20 years old, he said.
"It's just what we are doing right now," said Parks. "Hopefully, we will get another grant to get another one, but we won't know that until grants are announced by FEMA."
During Tuesday's meeting the officials unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding regarding responsibility in an emergency at their facility at Trent Lott International Airport. The board also approved an agreement of mutual aid in fire protection with the Jackson County Board of Supervisors concerning the airport and in general fire protection.
Chief Parks and attorney Charlie McVea said that Northrop had asked for a written statement outlining who would be in command of the emergency response to their facility.
"From a legal side it is something they have a right to do," said McVea.
The city officials approved to hiring of Tyler Mackie as a temporary full time firefighter, and approved a request for Matthew Meeks to attend the Firefighter 1001 Certification Class at the Mississippi Fire Academy from Jan. 7 to Feb. 14 at a cost of $1,530.
In a similar move for the police department, the board approved the purchase of two Harley Davidson motorcycles that had been under lease. Police Chief Keith Davis said the $17,477 cost for the vehicles would come from drug forfeiture money.
"These motorcycles were leased two years ago. My predecessor did not use them so it wouldn't make any sense to turn them in. These are virtually brand new motorcycles," said Davis.
He said the department lost its certified motorcycle officer when Lance Shipman went to Pascagoula, but he aims to have two more certified officers for the motorcycles when Pascagoula Police Department conducts a training course January.