The Normal Town Council voted Wednesday to move ahead with a potential lawsuit against a fire truck maker.
Mayor Chris Koos said Pierce Manufacturing's trucks have a 50-year warranty but suffer from corrosion.
“The company’s initial position is no they’re not under warranty because we didn’t maintain them properly,” said Koos.
Koos said Pierce charges more to fix the problem with rusty vehicle frames than it would cost to have the work done locally. But having anyone but Pierce do the work voids the warranty.
“This is happening to multiple communities. So, that’s why we are coming together as a class-action to address this issue,” said Koos.
Seven municipalities are joining the effort to hire a law firm, including the city of Bloomington.
“It’s all very early on, so we’re not quite sure how it’s going to end up,” said Koos.
Two of six trucks with corrosion have been taken out commission until repairs can be made. The cost for Pierce to do the work is an estimated $90,000 per engine.
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