By Vince Lennon
LaFayette, GA – The old English axiom “penny wise pound foolish” rang reminiscent Thursday night at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Walker County Board of Commissioners, as the panel unanimously approved a $1,469,735 purchase order for a new ladder truck for Walker County Fire Rescue, which is hoped to be delivered to the department as soon as October.
The unaccounted new vehicle purchase was necessitated by the June 25th fiery wreck of its predecessor truck, which occurred during a test drive by a shop mechanic, who has since been fired along with his supervisor for the incident.
A review of the single vehicle accident near the train crossing on Old LaFayette Road near Glass Mill Road by the Georgia State Patrol found the driver/mechanic John Pendergrass was not properly licensed to drive the vehicle when the brakes reportedly failed, leading to the driver losing control of the truck, as it tipped over and ignited into flames.
Current Walker County Commission Chair Angela Teems confirmed the wrecked vehicle was only covered with minimal liability insurance at the time of the crash, meaning the county will now have to bear the entire replacement cost for the truck.
“The decision to carry only liability coverage, particularly on such a valuable asset, appears to have been a calculated, cost-saving attempt made by the previous chairman,” said Teems.
A coverage policy review from Walker County’s insurance carrier suggests the long term savings may have been short sighted by then Chairman Shannon Whitfield.
“The county saved approximately $11,220 over the past twelve years by not insuring this vehicle with full coverage, although the truck was valued at approximately $640,000. This savings is disproportionately small compared to the risk assumed,” concluded Teems, citing the insurance carrier’s policy determination.
“Had full coverage been maintained, those funds would now be available to apply to a replacement vehicle,” said Teems, who added that full insurance coverage is now in place for similarly valued vehicles and a policy review of the entire 345 fleet of vehicles is underway.
When questioned about the particulars involved in the wrecked fire truck and subsequent insurance fiasco, Chairwoman Teems deferred to answering in a public forum, but would do so privately afterward.
In other commission action, an Automatic Aid Agreement was approved with the New Salem Fire Department in neighboring Dade County, to assist in fire calls at the Cloudland at McLemore development on Lookout Mountain.