Now
Overcast
76.0°
High
87°
Low
68°
Full Forecast

Coupon

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > Local
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

EDM says trucks meet specs

Comments 16 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

By DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Jul 18, 2006 - 12:11:47 am CDT

An inspection of five of the city’s new firetrucks has turned up more than 50 parts on each truck that don’t meet the city’s bid specifications, according to a source familiar with a report that will be delivered to the mayor and City Council on Wednesday.

However, the president of the Lincoln distributor that sold the city the trucks, Jeff Mellen of EDM Equipment Co., said Monday that the trucks meet and exceed all of the city’s specifications.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Tom Casady informed the City Council Monday that the FBI is assisting his department’s investigation of the

Story Photo
A new firetruck is inspected at the Lincoln Fire Department Shop Wednesday, July 12. (Robert Becker)

Related Media

Interactive: Whats the deal with the firetrucks?

Interactive: Whats the deal with the firetrucks?...

Comments: 0
Rated:

$2 million firetruck purchase.

The 50 alleged deficiencies on the trucks would eclipse the 10 that a competing firetruck dealer said he found during a June inspection of one of the trucks, and more than double the number of problems city inspectors reported midway through their examination of the trucks.

The city law department requested a full inspection of the trucks to see whether they meet the city’s specification, in anticipation of litigation over the truck order. The city ordered seven pumpers from EDM, which ordered the trucks built by Florida manufacturer Emergency One, or E-One.

Mayor Coleen Seng asked for Fire Chief Mike Spadt’s resignation and placed Assistant Fire Chief John Huff on administrative leave on July 7 after she said a cursory inspection of the trucks showed they don’t   meet the bid specs.

Last week Seng asked Casady to investigate whether crimes were committed in connection with the purchase. The following day, Casady asked the FBI for assistance with what he called a complex investigation.

But he cautioned people against reading too much into the FBI’s role, saying it’s not unusual.

“There’s nothing sinister about this,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we’re ratcheting the investigation up.”

But EDM’s president said Fire Department employees signed off on the trucks, indicating they met specifications, after inspections.

He said Spadt, Huff and the Fire Department’s deputy chief of maintenance, Dennis Klein, all got under a truck and counted the cross members during an eight-hour inspection at the Florida manufacturing plant in December.

He said some of the cross members are difficult to see “unless you’re a contortionist.”

Klein wrote the bid specifications and signed off on inspection sheets indicating the trucks fully complied with the city’s requirements, Mellen said. Klein is still employed by the city but has declined to comment on the investigation.

Mellen said he welcomes the investigation, and will fully cooperate. He said he understands that when you do business with public entities, occasionally these kinds of issues come up and sometimes “there are personalities involved.”

“We’ll obviously be very glad when the investigation is completed and this is all cleared up. We understand that there is a process and we fully support the mayor’s decision to have an investigation and we welcome that. We want the city to continue to be satisfied after 12 years of doing business with them, and fully expect that once this investigation is completed, they will be,” Mellen said.

Casady said he asked the FBI to assist his department to assure the public that the investigation is unbiased and because the FBI has special expertise investigating financial crimes and can reach beyond Nebraska’s borders, if necessary.

However, before the FBI agrees to assist, there must be potential for violations of federal law, he said.

Casady said he didn’t make the FBI angle public earlier because he didn’t want to turn up the vitriol even further or increase trepidation among people, particularly Fire Department employees who haven’t done anything wrong.

Mellen said it might have been more logical for Seng to wait until the investigation was complete before asking for Spadt’s resignation, but added “I don’t know any of the details” surrounding her decision.

“We are aware of absolutely no wrongdoing on the part of any city employee and we stand fully prepared to participate or cooperate in the investigation into any matter we can,” he said.

He said E-One assured him the trucks meet the city’s requirements after an extensive engineering review that lasted more than a week.

“Our own review has confirmed this as well,” he said. The city has five of the seven trucks; the last two are being outfitted with finishing touches at EDM on West O Street.

Mellen said his company has yet to be officially notified by the city of any alleged deficiencies in the trucks, and wasn’t asked to participate in the inspection of the trucks last week. City officials plan to begin talks with EDM after presenting the mayor with the inspection report.

“If they had questions ... it may have aided in the process,” Mellen said.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Local > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
Who Cares wrote on July 18, 2006 8:11 am:
" "However, the president of the Lincoln distributor that sold the city the trucks, Jeff Mellen of EDM Equipment Co., said Monday that the trucks meet and exceed all of the city’s specifications." So the Trucks meet the specs and Coleen Seng Fired the Chief for no reason? Very Odd, I wonder if the Mayor will lose her job now and the city get sued for wrongful termination. That would be funny for Jon Camp. "
Nic C wrote on July 18, 2006 8:41 am:
" Good call who cares. If these trucks do meet the proposed specs as stated the city should impeach Jon Camp for being a pot stirrer. "
Who cares wrote on July 18, 2006 9:18 am:
" What would one expect the local company to say, "no I intentionally didn't meet your specifications, DUH!!!!!!! He's just posturing to save him hinny "
hoppy wrote on July 18, 2006 9:24 am:
" Since when is this about Jon Camp? EDM who sold us the trucks sez the trucks meet specs however city purchasing sez "not so fast". If this had been handled by City Purchasing in the first place instead of Spadt's ham handed attempts to interfere in the process and steer the bid EDM's way we likely would not have any of these problems. "
Obvious wrote on July 18, 2006 9:27 am:
" Why wasn't EDM asked to participate in the inspection process?? Seems like they would know what each fire truck would be equipped with. "
DLM wrote on July 18, 2006 9:54 am:
" If this is a breach of contract then why isn't the city suing. Firing the fire chief sounds more like a personal vendetta to me. "
localyocal wrote on July 18, 2006 10:12 am:
" There has got to be more to this story. If the trucks didn't meet the specs requested by the LFD, then wouldn't they have been sent back? which is normally what happens when something you order isn't correct. Isn't it a little strange that the two parties involved, the company and the city, are both claiming different results? Something is definitely missing. "
Judge and Jury wrote on July 18, 2006 11:34 am:
" If the trucks actually do meet the specifications, then by golly... Chief Spadt should rightly end up owning the city of Lincoln. And Mayor Seng should be perpwalked right out of city hall. After all of this, if the specs were met (the major ones that have caused all of this) then it will be a nausiating turn of events. "
Of course... wrote on July 18, 2006 12:33 pm:
" If there wasn't something to hide, why did Spadt resign? Wouldn't he have been better off being fired (at least from the point of view of being able to sue for wrongful termination if this is all just a personal witchhunt by the mayor/council)? "
Mike wrote on July 18, 2006 1:16 pm:
" Isn't Cassidy a cop? Shouldn't he be trying to do some cop things instead of growling for the mayor all day long? "
citizen wrote on July 18, 2006 2:09 pm:
" Who is going to investigate Mayor Seng's waiver of the $500,000 late penalties? This was money legally due the City of Lincoln and taxpayers, as per a binding contract. Who/what gave her the authority to pass up this financial windfall? If this mess is to be investigated, start from beginning and punish everyone for their misconduct... "
look at it all wrote on July 18, 2006 2:19 pm:
" Hopfully people dont read into the FBI being involved, For those who were complaining about an outside agency not being asked to help in this investigation well what are they going to complain about next do they think the mayor called the President and said tell your FBI people to let things slide on this investigation. The FBI have alot more capabilities since there is an out of state company involved and this will help the police department due a thourough investigation. So there will be no questions about the investigation. Oh Ya look at everytime EDM didnt recieve a bid they complained and got the bid sounds like to me it is EDM who keeps low balling the other companies so they can get there way and for the types of vehicle they have, ask you local firefighters about some of the recent E-ones that have been purchased in the past and how they really hold up after a few years, sounds like to me they may look nice but are not worth the money. Everyone should just remember innocent until proven guilty. Former Chief Spadt is getting alot of bad publicity right now and this not only effects him but his family and childern, So for the medica and those radio announcers and remember we live in a society of innocent until proven guilty, I bet you all will have alot of egg on your face when this is all over and I'll bet not one applology will be made to the Spadt or Huff familys. Low bids are not always what they look like. Sonds lke councilwoman Mccroy has the rifht idea and break all ties with EDM on allowing them to bid. I do think the city has that right. If I were buying a parachute would I choose the lowest bid I DONT THINK SO... "
Bill Says wrote on July 18, 2006 2:53 pm:
" This sounds a lot like a lot of who shot John to me and I am not sure anybody knows what they are talking about on these Fire trucks. But I will say one thing for sure and it is if Jon Camp and Mayor Seng Don't know what they are talking about then they should be run out of town and Spalt be given back his rightful place with some comp from seng and camp. "
ac wrote on July 18, 2006 4:59 pm:
" Wasn't it close to $600,000? EDM's excuse was Katrina-but last week I read that the Florida company had them done on time (and had yet to be paid--nothing new for EDM). I don't know about the politics of it all, and it definitely DOES seem political, but the city should not accept sub-standard equipment--sounds like they need to start with EDM and move onto the folks that ok'd these trucks within the city. The late penalties being waived is just ridiculous; oh, but wait, the city has plenty of money with increased property taxes. "
Insight wrote on July 18, 2006 6:03 pm:
" Just watch the terms meet or exceed. Most likely many of these issues will be fought over by EDM saying thier part exceeded the spec so no exception was neseccary. An example would be to ask for a 1/4" bolt with 13 threads, and you use a 1/4" bolt with 15 threads. Therefore you have meet the spec and exceeded it, since 15 threads is more than required and not less. Or asking for metal that is .090 thick and you use .125 thick metal. In the end many of these 50 items will be wideled away to a few if any. "
he said she said wrote on July 18, 2006 6:57 pm:
" It sounds like the LPD and FBI are just going to go over the books, not inspect the trucks. Seng's goons are the ones checking the trucks, but who knows if they actually know anything more than how to kick the tires. We need a 3rd party who are experts in the field to examine the trucks, even if it means disassembling a truck down to the last bolt. Just because a person is an expert on a PC does not necessarily qualify them to be a MAC expert. If the public works guys are the ones who maintain the trucks, why were they not included on the post-delivery inspection? Has LFD been removed from inspection process if they do all of their own maintenance? Either someone is keeping two sets of books or else grandma seng is asleep at the wheel(again). Why is Klein still employed while his supposed partners in crime losing their heads? "

Ads by Yahoo!