Bellevue buys new command vehicle

By Heather Graves

Correspondent

BELLEVUE – Take a look at this beaut – it’s the newest member of the village’s fire and rescue department.

The 2019 Ford F-150 joins the fleet as the new command vehicle.

It will replace the department’s 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe that was used for the same purpose.

“The Tahoe is getting older and is high in miles,” said Fire Chief Jack Mlnarik. “It isn’t cost efficient for the village anymore.”

The Tahoe will be listed on the Wisconsin Surplus Vehicle online auction site and those profits, Mlnarik said will be used to help with the cost of the new one.

Mlnarik said the command vehicle will be used by battalion chiefs or duty chiefs as incident command for emergency incidents.

The command vehicle will be housed at Station 1 on Eaton Road along with Engine 511, Engine 512, Ladder 511, Utility 511, the brush rig and Tender 511.

Mlnarik said the radio and siren still need to be installed, but said its slated to come in $3,000-$5,000 under budget, around $55,000.

The department chose to have the commend vehicle wrapped with the Bellevue labeling rather than painting it.

“It’s cheaper than paint and once you are ready to sell it the wrap can be removed easily,” Mlnarik said. “A lot of municipalities are going with wraps now.”