PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PURCHASE CANCELLED … Brock Zuver, Joe Nickloy, and Dean Frisbie discuss the canceling of the new fire engine.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Pioneer Village Council met for a special meeting on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, to approve the cancellation of the purchase of a rescue engine.
Ordinance 14-2026 was first introduced at the March 9, 2026, Village Council meeting. The ordinance proposed canceling the purchase of a rescue engine originally authorized in 2023.
The truck had been approved through a combination of village funds and a state-sponsored investment account at a time when call volumes for the Pioneer Fire Department were significantly higher.
Updated fire department stats were presented by Mayor Ed Kidston in the March council meeting. In 2024, the department responded to 303 runs, averaging 25 per month.
Over the past six months, that number dropped to 28 total runs, or roughly five per month—an 80% decrease in use.
While the usage rates cannot be predicted month by month, a recent major drop has occurred.
Previous discussion also included the condition and value of the current rescue engine, Engine 71. Kidston stated that Engine 71 has accumulated a total of 1,337 hours of use.
This falls short of the 2,000-hour threshold typically considered before selling the equipment.
During the March 9, 2026, meeting, a motion to suspend the rules was brought to the floor, but failed 3-3.
Ordinance 14-2026 then had to go through the three-reading process. The first reading of the ordinance also resulted in a tie, with members West, Frisbie, and Zuver voting against and members Fiser, Gendron, and Nickloy voting in favor of canceling the purchase.
In a split vote, the mayor is authorized to cast the deciding vote. Mayor Kidston voted in favor of canceling the purchase, which sent the ordinance to its second reading.
Two special meetings were then scheduled for March 25, 2026, and March 26, 2026, to push through the ordinance.
First, a motion to once again suspend the rules was brought to the floor. This time, all council members voted in favor of the suspension. This canceled the third reading, making the March 26, 2026, meeting unnecessary.
A lengthy discussion was then held on the damaged parts that the engine currently has.
An inspection of Engine 71 was held prior to the meeting. The inspector noted that everything could be fixed for $70,000 or less on the current fire engine. A damaged component list was also provided by Chief Roger Swank and Tiler Williams. [Reporter: please verify name and provide title for Tiler Williams.]
The biggest concern with Engine 71 was that it is an American LaFrance model, made by a company that closed in 2014. Parts are becoming increasingly more difficult to find, but not impossible.
Currently, no spare parts have been ordered due to how quickly the ordinance was introduced.
Engine 71 is in operation and still functions. Notably, the engine was said to be in great condition. The proprietary pump and the electronics that go with it were said to be the main issue.
“It’s just leaking,” stated Williams—noting that the pump is still functioning but the seals are leaking. The pump, and its seals, is a difficult component to find.
“It looks like we’re going to get another ten years out of Engine 71 for very little money,” said Kidston.
A motion to approve the cancellation of the purchase of a new rescue engine was moved. Members Zuver, West, and Frisbie voted against it, while members Gendron, Fiser, and Nickloy voted yes.
Once again, the motion was split with a 3-3 vote. Kidston cast the tie-breaking vote and voted in favor of canceling the purchase.
Ordinance 14-2026 was approved and the fire engine purchase was canceled.
At 5:36 p.m., the Council entered executive session for potential property acquisition. No action was taken and the meeting adjourned directly afterwards.