Sen. Wm. Larkin and Chief T. Ahlers announce the funding for a new
ladder truck
NEWBURGH – In one of State Senator William Larkin’s last
actions before his retirement in one month, he has secured $950,000 from
the state for the City of Newburgh to purchase a new ladder truck.
The 90-year-old senator stood with Acting Fire Chief Terry Ahlers and
several city firefighters to make the announcement on Monday.
Larkin said he went right to the top in Albany to secure the funding.
“I wasn’t going to take a no or a maybe,” he said in
his quest to secure the money.
Ahlers noted that Larkin has been an invaluable asset to the city and
its fire department, most recently getting funding to purchase new communications
radios so the city firefighters could communicate with firefighters in
other departments within Orange County, something they were unable to
do when they helped fight the Verla Cosmetics company fire in New Windsor
one year ago.
Once the paperwork has been completed in Albany, Ahlers said specifications
will be drawn up and actual construction of the new ladder truck will
take about 13 months. The new vehicle will replace two worn out trucks
that have been patched repeatedly to be kept in service.
