AUBURN - If all goes as planned, the Auburn Fire Department could have several sets of new wheels within the next few years.

Fire chief Mike Hammon presented Auburn City Council with a proposal that would account for replacing five pieces of apparatus, one this year, in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2013.

The total cost amounts to $1.74 million, Hammon estimated. However, the city would save in maintenance costs and could sell those vehicles after a few years, unlike most of the current fleet.

The city budgeted $60,000 for maintenance of the aging fire trucks and engines this year, $12,000 less than last year.

“I'm not comfortable asking you to go into debt,” Hammon told councilors. Instead, he wanted to present ways for the city to find the money. He aims to save $150,000 in overtime costs to fund new equipment as part of an incentive program city manager Mark Palesh initiated for the fiscal year that started this week.

The city also sent out grant applications that would fund new pumper trucks if awarded, Hammon said.

“I think it's something the city has to do,” former fire chief Michael Quill said referring to replacing the vehicles.

The council and past councils have heard the need to update the equipment for years but never had the finances to do so, he added.

Most of the vehicles scheduled for replacement are fire engines, but one would serve as a ambulance and supplement vehicle for the Hazardous Materials crew.

“Occasionally, we're sitting on a scene waiting for an ambulance,” Hammon said. This would eliminate that situation.

Officials estimate the department responds to medical situations 75 percent of the time, and rest are fires.

Mayor Timothy Lattimore asked about exploring cooperation with surrounding communities so the department could use other communities' fleets. However, even if city leaders developed a regionalization plan, the department would still have the same amount of workers and needs a certain number of vehicles for those employees, Hammon said.

In other news:

- Palesh wants to form a beautification committee to make Auburn more visually pleasing. Cuts to the city's Public Works Department translated to less workers doing more work. The committee offers an opportunity for residents to provide help where the city no longer has many resources, Palesh said.

“It's not just flowers. To my mind, it's 'Are there too many signs?' That's ugly,” he said.

The proposed nine-member commission would include a representative from the city manager's office, Auburn Enlarged School District, Grow Auburn's Trees, Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District, a design firm and Chamber of Commerce. Three at-large members would round out the voluntary group.

The council will vote on the resolution next Thursday.

The group would pursue grants and accept donations to fund any projects. The members also would be responsible for establishing rules and regulations to add consistency to Auburn.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net